In evidence to the Trade & Industry Select Committee yesterday, BNFL Chairman Hugh Collum confirmed that THORP had reprocessed over 800 tonnes of spent fuel this financial year (ending 31st March 2000). In an effort to impress the cross-party committee members, Mr Collum described the plant’s performance as the best yet – but omitted to tell them that the actual target for the year was 1020 tonnes and that THORP had therefore slipped further behind schedule. He also failed to point out that THORP had missed the previous year’s target, achieving just 50% of the figure. Opened in March 1994, THORP was projected to reprocess 7000 tonnes of customers spent fuel in the first ten years of operation. These ‘Baseload’ contracts were therefore due for completion by end of March 2004 but, in a major U-turn for the Company, Mr Collum had to admit to the committee that this deadline is also likely to be missed. CORE said today “ Since day one, BNFL have always been adamant that THORP’s Baseload contracts would be finished on time. Mr Collum’s admission to the committee confirms our view that THORP is a loser and, with no new contracts on the horizon, is indeed the White Elephant we predicted. Following the MOX scandal, these new failures will diminish government and customer confidence even further. “ In a day of embarrassing admissions, Mr Collum also confirmed that BNFL was unlikely to meet even 1 of the 6 targets set for the year by government relating to the preparations for the part privatisation of the company. For further information contact CORE on 01229 833851, 01229 716523 or (mob) 0789 999 1146 Notes for editors: THORP is now starting its 7th year of operation and with a total of only 2800 tonnes completed in the first 6 years of operation, the plant is faced with reprocessing the balance of at least 4200 tonnes in the final 4 years of the Baseload period. This requires a minimum throughput rate of 1050 tonnes each year which must be achieved without any more of the accidents or extended shut-downs that have dogged the plant to date. It also represents a much higher rate than that previously forecast by BNFL who, in proposing a 700 tonne/year rate in 1990, considered it ‘prudent’ to maintain a significant margin between the the plant’s design capacity of 1200 tonnes per year and the actual tonnage intended to be reprocessed. BNFL was forced to ammend the rate in 1996 to 900 tonnes/yr following the plant’s poor early years’ performance.