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Insight Newsletter
Edition 10 - November 2012(2Mb)
Previous editions of Insight
Edition 9 - June 2012 (3Mb)
Edition 8 - February 2012 (3Mb)
Edition 7 - September 2011 (3Mb)
Insight Newsletter - Special Edition - Financial Highlights 2010/11 (2Mb)
Edition 6 - June 2011 (1Mb)
Edition 5 - February 2011 (3Mb)
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Edition 3 - July 2010 (2Mb)
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Research is vital – and we need more of it
Last year, Stan Gordelier, former Head of the Nuclear Development Division of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, became the first independent Chair of the NDA's Research Board. He has more than 40 years experience in the nuclear sector and is a specialist in waste management and decommissioning.
"...Research and Development is the key to improvement in each of these areas, and this impacts far more than just clearing up the past. If the UK is to achieve its objective of a significant nuclear contribution to the nation's energy mix again, we must demonstrate effective management capability for the new liabilities that will arise."
Read more about 'Research is vital – and we need more of it'...
04 April 2013
Nuclear history captured for posterity
More than 70 years worth of information from the UK civil nuclear industry will be brought together at a new archive that will be built in the far north of Scotland.
04 April 2013
Winfrith hazard gone
A massive batch of hazardous sodium metal, stored at Winfrith for more than 30 years, has now been disposed of.
04 April 2013
Breeder transport now under way
Nuclear material left over from Dounreay’s research work in the 20th century is being returned to national fuel stocks as part of the site’s clean-up and closure.
04 April 2013
Funding boost speeds up demolition
A funding boost of more than £12.8 million will speed up decommissioning
at Dungeness A, enabling the turbine halls to be demolished.
03 April 2013
Transport moves continue
The return of solid vitrified waste to Japan has continued amid the ongoing
political sensitivities around the future of the country’s nuclear industry.
03 April 2013
Climbing to new heights
An award-winning robot has been shared with Dounreay after undergoing trials at Sellafield.
03 April 2013
Bulk asbestos safely removed
More than 10 years’ worth of work to remove 2,100-plus tonnes of
asbestos from Hinkley Point A site has now been completed.
03 April 2013
All clear for first vault
Trawsfynydd site has scored a major first for the Magnox fleet by completing the clean-out of radioactive sludge from one of its resin vaults.
03 April 2013
The art of creating a nuclear sight
The image of nuclear enjoyed an artistic make-over when Tate Britain
brought video cameras to capture the sights and sounds of Trawsfynydd
site in Snowdonia.
27 March 2013
New guidance on managing waste
New guidance has been published by the NDA to assist SLCs and the wider nuclear industry in developing comprehensive strategies for dealing with all types of waste.
27 March 2013
Addressing issues related to geological disposal
We are making it easier for stakeholders who have raised issues about geological disposal of radioactive waste to see how their concerns are being considered and addressed through the launch of new interactive system.
26 March 2013
The focus is on our people
As part of measures to support the supply chain, we take a look at one of the estate’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
25 March 2013
Students showcase their research
Research students supported by NDA funding were given the opportunity to showcase their work at the first-ever NDA PhD Seminar.
25 March 2013
A lap of the equator in the blink of an eye
Less well known is that West Cumbria has its very own accelerator, the £3 million Pelletron, dedicated to nuclear research.
15 March 2013
Skills and socio-economic projects update
Two contrasting NDA funded socio-economic and skills development projects in West Cumbria take steps forward.
22 February 2013
Olympics delivery success: lessons for nuclear
Both NDA, Sellafield Ltd and the supply chain benefited from a ‘lessons learned’ session presented by the Olympic Delivery Authority team and their delivery Partner, CLM.
12 February 2013
Showcasing UK nuclear skills to China
The unique talents of British nuclear entrepreneurs were on full display for a delegation of Chinese specialists visiting the NDA’s Harwell site last week.
17 January 2013
Prestigious honorary role for our Professor Smart
Science Director appointed to the prestigious post of Visiting Professor in the Department of Materials at Imperial College London.
08 January 2013
Chinese opportunities for smaller companies
Smaller businesses are being offered a unique opportunity to showcase their nuclear skills to a delegation of Chinese experts who are visiting the UK.
21 December 2012
Third Reactor Defuelled at Chapelcross
Magnox Limited Chapelcross hit another significant decommissioning milestone at the site on Friday 21 December 2012 when the third reactor was completely defuelled.
14 December 2012
International delegations visit NDA sites
The NDA and its Site Licence Companies were pleased to welcome a series of international delegations to the UK in the months of November and December 2012.
14 December 2012
Stakeholder views sought
Communicating with our stakeholders is important to us. We value knowing how you think we are getting on.
13 December 2012
NDA estate supply chain event and awards
More than 700 visitors from all over the UK and beyond took advantage of face-to-face networking opportunities at the second supply chain event for the whole NDA estate.
12 December 2012
Magnox tops national HR awards
Magnox has scooped a top national award for its approach to staff management.
12 November 2012
A closer look at pond life
Work continues at pace to decommission cooling ponds across a number of the Magnox sites.
12 November 2012
Industry Guidance set for launch
Three years of collaborative work across the nuclear industry have led to the compilation of a comprehensive set of guidelines on the interim storage of Higher Activity Waste (HAW) packages.
26 October 2012
World’s deepest nuclear clean-up
Plans for the world’s deepest nuclear clean-up have been on public display ahead of an application for permission to start construction work next year.
26 October 2012
Rail terminal improvement could cut lorryloads
Following a £multi-million refurbishment, the siding at Georgemas Junction in Caithness could become an important regional rail freight hub for the north of Scotland.
26 October 2012
North Wales MP visits Trawsfynydd
Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for the Westminster constituency of Arfon, recently made his second visit to the Trawsfynydd site.
26 October 2012
Stripping back to the basics
Around 2,000 tonnes of asbestos cladding have now been removed from structures at Chapelcross site as Phase One of the project comes to a close.
11 October 2012
Rt Hon Ed Davey visits Dounreay
Rt Hon Ed Davey Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change was joined by local MP John Thurso as he visited Dounreay to see progress on the £1.6billion decommissioning programme.
09 October 2012
Check them out
Barcode technology enables Magnox to pioneer innovative tracking system providing immediate access to comprehensive, up-to-date information on waste streams.
04 October 2012
New Parliamentary Under Secretary of State visits
New Department for Energy and Climate Change minister Baroness Verma today called for a continued and strong focus on decommissioning at the Sellafield nuclear site as she praised the “dedication and professionalism” of the workforce on her first visit to West Cumbria.
02 October 2012
Recycling award reflects ‘minimal’ waste approach
Bradwell site has won a prestigious national award for the way it handles waste, both radiological and conventional.
19 September 2012
NDA Estate Supply Chain Awards 2012
Businesses in the decommissioning supply chain are being invited to submit entries for a prestigious new award that recognises their contribution to the nuclear clean-up mission.
11 September 2012
Research and development requirements
The NDA has published a summary of an independent review of the work being carried out at site level to identify requirements for research and development (R&D).
10 September 2012
National group supports smaller businesses
The NDA has announced the formation of a national Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Steering Group to provide additional focus and support to current supply chain improvement measures.
05 September 2012
MRWS Environment Assessment Workshop
Representatives from 12 UK organisations attended an Environmental Assessments workshop organised by NDA’s Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) at the end of July 2012.
17 August 2012
Work starting on Inventory update
As work starts on compiling the next UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (UKRWI), views are being sought on how the information should be presented.
09 August 2012
Apply now for share of £15 million research funds
There's still time for organisations to apply for a share of the £15 million that is being made available for nuclear research projects in the supply chain.
09 August 2012
Upstream optioneering workshop a success
Over 70 delegates attended, offering views on some of the opportunities within the project's programme and suggesting potential new opportunities.
08 August 2012
Health of the Supply Chain Study
The NDA is carrying out a study to re-evaluate the decommissioning supply chain and establish whether any revisions to its strategy are needed.
01 August 2012
Visit to Sweden’s Äspö underground laboratory
Visit highlights the advantages of testing innovative solutions on an environmentally relevant scale.
27 July 2012
New research contracts awarded
Following a six-month procurement process, four new framework contracts have now been awarded for the next stages of Research & Development (R&D) work to support the NDA’s decommissioning mission.
06 July 2012
Universities collaborate in nuclear science
The universities of Manchester and Liverpool are to collaborate on nuclear science and engineering research at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility (DCF), on the Westlakes Science and Technology Park near Whitehaven.
03 July 2012
New group discuss future geological disposal needs
Organisations who may need to use a geological disposal facility in the future kept informed about developments.
02 July 2012
Briefing on £15m R&D competition
Interested parties invited to briefing on 10 July 2012 on the competitive application process to award £15 million to a range of research and development projects.
29 June 2012
Response to the regulators’ review of generic DSSC
A high level response to the regulatory review of the generic Disposal System Safety Case for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste.
25 June 2012
Upstream Optioneering Workshop July 2012
Those with a particular interest in packaging waste for geological disposal are invited to explore some of the technical aspects of the Upstream Optioneering project.
21 June 2012
Russians visit Hunterston A
On behalf of the NDA, Hunterston recently hosted a three-day visit by Rosatom Nuclear State Energy Corporation, the owner and operator of the nuclear reactors in Russia.
19 June 2012
Novel cutting technique used for pipe cutting
A technique to cut through underground pipes using high-pressure water has been used for the first time at Winfrith, where it has speeded up decommissioning work.
19 June 2012
Joint event for potential suppliers
The NDA and its SLCs are once again collaborating to organise a joint event for existing and potential suppliers.
18 June 2012
Organisational changes
New Chief Executive John Clarke has made a number of organisational changes to the NDA structure to reflect the priority allocated to Sellafield.
18 June 2012
Landfill could be egg-cellent nesting site
As an old Dounreay waste dump is returned to nature, there is hope that
sea birds will find its newly landscaped mound an attractive nesting spot.
18 June 2012
Supporting our communities
The new Magnox socio-economic scheme has been launched, aiming to mitigate the impact of decommissioning on communities living near Magnox sites.
18 June 2012
SMART waste categorisation
Estimated savingsof £46 million are set to be secured through a new approach to assessing volumes of low level waste (LLW) on Magnox sites.
15 June 2012
Last fuel leaves site
The last consignment of spent nuclear fuel has left Dungeness A site for reprocessing at Sellafield, marking the end of a five-year programme.
15 June 2012
International experts welcome Magnox approach
A team of international experts have welcomed the new Magnox approach to decommissioning, where work is accelerated at two "lead" sites.
15 June 2012
£4 million research into geological disposal
Scientists from universities around the country to work on
five major projects associated with
geological disposal of higher activity radioactive wastes.
13 June 2012
Shared waste facilities under construction
The NDA is considering sharing some of its planned Intermediate Level
Waste (ILW) storage facilities as an option for a more flexible and
cost-effective approach to managing some kinds of radioactive waste.
13 June 2012
Spotlight on Sellafield: Magnox Storage Pond
The use of robot technology is essential in areas that are too radioactive for people, or where access is difficult. As part of our focus on Sellafield’s historic facilities, collectively known as Legacy Ponds and Silos, we look at the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond.
13 June 2012
It’s a bug’s life at Sellafield
Despite high levels of radioactivity, Sellafield’s open-air spent fuel ponds
appear to be a welcoming environment for a surprising range of micro-organisms.
13 June 2012
Reaching the unreachable
The NDA’s sites face a constant challenge to clean up highly radioactive or confined spaces where workforce access is impossible, and a key part of the solution is the deployment of remotely operated equipment.
11 June 2012
Site begins to take the waste
Waste from nuclear sites is now beginning to arrive at a specialised landfill site in Northamptonshire that has recently been authorised to handle lightly radioactive material.
11 June 2012
NDA Flowdowns – Simplified!
The NDA is simplifying its sub-contract requirements after hearing that the terms and conditions are difficult to understand.
01 June 2012
National accolade for Sellafield Plan
The new Sellafield Plan, which outlines a detailed scope of complex work over the coming years, was welcomed as “unique” as it collected one of the UK’s most prestigious communications awards.
28 May 2012
Ideas drive Magnox innovation
The best new ideas generated in Magnox have battled it out in the annual i4 competition.
10 May 2012
Brokering events support £15million R&D investment
Businesses and researchers seeking funding support for innovative nuclear projects are urged to book a place on brokering events which will help to develop collaborative partnerships.
05 April 2012
Applause for nuclear skills achievements
Apprentices and students from the NDA’s estate received accolades for developing their expertise at a recent Nuclear Skills Award Evening held in Manchester.
01 March 2012
US and UK build on information exchange
The collaboration between the US and the UK on nuclear decommissioning issues is set to continue, with the renewal of a Statement of Intent (SOI) first signed in 2007.
29 February 2012
100th organisation commits to supply chain charter
Over 100 companies are now signed up to the NDA Estate’s Supply Chain Charter that aims to foster good working practices between all clients and contractors, from the largest to the smallest, no matter where they sit in the NDA Estate supply chain.
13 February 2012
Year of opportunities in the nuclear sector
Lord Hutton of Furness, the former MP for Barrow and Furness, feels confident in predicting that 2012 will be the year for nuclear delivery and for new opportunities across the industry.
13 February 2012
Expect the unexpected
Finally, the end is in sight for two facilities that deal with the radioactive sludge from Winfrith’s most famous experiment, the Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor, or SGHWR.
10 February 2012
Mix of old and new help save on pipeline project
Huge savings have been achieved from a project to decommission several miles of drains that once carried low-level radioactive effluent across the Harwell site.
10 February 2012
Ultimate aim is a concrete slab
In the second of our series focusing on Sellafield’s historic facilities, we look at the Pile Fuel Storage Pond.
10 February 2012
Spotlight on defuelling
The world’s first commercial nuclear power station, Calder Hall, has started to remove the spent fuel from its reactors in a programme which will take up to six years.
10 February 2012
Oldest working reactor closes with a flourish
After 44 years of safely generating electricity, the world’s oldest working nuclear power station was finally set to turn off the power at the end of February.
10 February 2012
Final fuel elements arrive at Wylfa
Wylfa Site has taken delivery of the last Magnox nuclear fuel elements ever to be manufactured, with the last bulk delivery arriving just before Christmas.
09 February 2012
Hinkley collaboration keeps lorries away
A joint initiative by the Magnox site at Hinkley Point A and EDF Energy, developers of the proposed new Hinkley Point C power station, will keep thousands of lorries off local roads and fill a large hole in the old turbine hall.
08 February 2012
Finding out about a geological disposal facility
The opportunity remains open for communities to get involved in the voluntarist and partnership process to consider the benefits and impacts of hosting a geological disposal facility.
08 February 2012
Scientists, engineers and industrialists meet
Event brought together scientists, engineers and technologists to discuss a wide range of technological issues associated with the long-term management of radioactive waste in the UK.
08 February 2012
New executive team on the ground
Members of the Babcock Dounreay Partnership’s prospective new executive team have been familiarising themselves with the Scottish site, following the NDA’s announcement last year that the consortium was its preferred bidder to become the new Parent Body Organisation for Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd.
08 February 2012
Rail transports bring all-round savings
Substantial savings are set to be made across the nuclear industry by switching from road to rail for the focus of low-level radioactive waste transports.
06 February 2012
Local training provider win multi-million contract
Sellafield Ltd has awarded a multi million pound, long-term training contract to local provider Gen II.
02 February 2012
One sugar and a splash of radium in your tea?
Who would have thought that kettles, face creams and watches could pose a radiation hazard? Yet these radioactive curios are among the items in storage at RSRL Harwell awaiting disposal, some dating back to early last century.
31 January 2012
Welsh Environment Minister visits Trawsfynydd
The Welsh Government’s Environment and Sustainable Development Minister was shown a range of decommissioning activities during a recent visit to Trawsfynydd site in North Wales.
19 January 2012
A fifth of RSRL Harwell land delicensed
For the first time in decades, it is now possible to walk across the front of Harwell site without once stepping on nuclear licensed property.
17 January 2012
Research bursary call 2012
The NDA is offering up to £500,000 over the next financial year to encourage university research projects that can contribute to its nuclear decommissioning and clean-up mission.
06 December 2011
RWMD Restructure
Our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) has recently undertaken a review of its organisational structure. The high level objective was to develop a structure to deliver RWMD’s programme mission and objectives in the most efficient manner.
01 December 2011
RWMD first employer approved by Science Council
RWMD first to be approved in pilot Continuing Professional Development employer approval scheme.
01 December 2011
Work starts on underground waste vaults
Construction work has now started on a series of underground vaults that will house up to a quarter of a million tonnes of low-level radioactive waste arising from the gradual demolition of Dounreay.
28 November 2011
Berkeley boilers on the move
Berkeley's iconic boilers are due to be shipped off to Sweden for recycling.
28 November 2011
Stakeholders gather for national event
Almost 100 delegates gathered at the NDA’s National Event to discuss a range of decommissioning topics.
28 November 2011
French underground facility visit
Staff from RWMD accompanied a group of delegates from West Cumbria on a fact-finding visit to France.
22 November 2011
Supply chain event attracts 450 delegates
An audience of 450 representatives braved inclement weather on Monday 21st November to attend a Nuclear Supply chain conference where they heard key messages from across the NDA estate.
22 November 2011
£6 million energy centre opens on Anglesey
A £6 million energy centre on Anglesey was officially opened by Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones.
22 November 2011
Regulators review RWMD’s progress
Regulators publish second review of RWMD’s progress as a “Prospective Site Licence Company”.
11 November 2011
MOD consults on submarine dismantling
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has launched a public consultation on the dismantling of 27 of the UK’s defuelled nuclear-powered submarines after they have left service with the Royal Navy.
11 November 2011
Direct Research Portfolio recompetition update
More than 70 organisations have expressed an interest in working on the NDA’s portfolio of directly funded research.
09 November 2011
Wylfa’s strength
Wylfa Power Station has been credited for its strong performance by an international nuclear safety group.
09 November 2011
Locally based firms win contract
A number of West Cumbrian based firms have been successful in bidding for a three year framework agreement across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate which could be worth almost £100 million.
03 November 2011
Development of UK R&D Directory
The NDA is investigating how to develop a directory of UK organisations that are carrying out Research and Development (R&D) related to nuclear decommissioning.
19 October 2011
NHS chiefs learn from Dounreay safety record
NHS bosses looking for ways to make hospitals safer for patients have been looking at Dounreay to see what lessons can be learned from the site’s improving industrial safety record.
17 October 2011
Bradwell wins national training award
Bradwell is celebrating after winning a prestigious national award in recognition of its work to train local people in radiological protection.
14 October 2011
Re-competition of NDA’s Direct Research Portfolio
The NDA’s Direct Research Portfolio (DRP), involving Research & Development (R&D) that informs the development of NDA’s strategy, is currently being re-competed.
07 October 2011
Opportunities for the supply chain
The NDA and its SLCs are collaborating to organise a first-ever joint event for existing and potential suppliers.
04 October 2011
New measures to support smaller businesses
A collaborative drive is under way to shape proposals for increasing the access of smaller businesses to the £1.36 billion spent each year with the supply chain across the NDA estate.
03 October 2011
Growth opportunities in the nuclear sector
Mike Graham is the National Secretary of Prospect, the trade union that represents many of the professional staff working in the energy sector.
He outlines the benefits of a healthy nuclear industry.
03 October 2011
Work underway to start retrieving waste
Built 60 years ago, the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo, was Sellafield’s first storage facility for Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) and, like any building exposed to British weather for decades, needs care and attention.
03 October 2011
Iconic landmark reaches decommissioning milestone
Construction of Sellafield’s iconic ‘golf ball’ in the 1960s paved the way for the UK’s second generation of nuclear power stations which today provide around 15% of our electricity. Now, the safe decommissioning of this industrial-sized reactor, recently completed, marks a different kind of milestone as the NDA makes major inroads on its mission to clean up the nation’s nuclear legacy.
30 September 2011
Oily waste treatment pioneered at Trawsfynydd
A pioneering waste treatment solution adapted from the water industry is transforming the disposal of contaminated oil at Trawsfynydd and has the potential to be used in the wider nuclear estate.
30 September 2011
Dounreay competition heads into final phase
The NDA’s competition team has now begun to evaluate the detailed tenders submitted by the two consortia taking part in the competition to appoint a new Parent Body Organisation (PBO) for Dounreay Site Restoration Limited.
30 September 2011
The Swiss army knife to eclipse all rivals
It’s been dubbed the most sophisticated Swiss army knife ever built.
30 September 2011
Driving down the hazard – at speed
Meanwhile, in a separate project, the hazard posed by highly toxic coolant in the reactor is being reduced at a rate that far outstrips even the most optimistic of predictions and is on schedule to be completed by early next year.
29 September 2011
Rare orchid found on nuclear site
A rare Bee Orchid has been found at Chapelcross Site, near Annan in Dumfriesshire.
29 September 2011
Turbine recycled to train apprentices
New life is being breathed into a redundant turbine from Chapelcross site after it was found to be in tip-top condition despite more than 50 years of constant service.
29 September 2011
5,000 sorted and we can do more
Dealing with historic waste is a central feature of work at the Harwell site in Oxfordshire, and a notable landmark was recently achieved with the processing of the 5,000th waste canister.
29 September 2011
Problem fuel leaves site … finally!
The transporter moved off slowly and staff at Wylfa watched with pride as its load, a standard spent fuel flask, began the journey to Sellafield.
28 September 2011
Going, going almost gone!
Bradwell’s skyline has changed dramatically as the largest single building on site, the main turbine hall, is systematically razed to the ground.
23 September 2011
Sound Science in geological disposal
Our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) is sponsoring a “Underpinning Science and Technology for Radioactive Waste” conference which takes place at Loughborough University, Leicestershire from 18-20 October 2011.
21 September 2011
Data collection in the spotlight for LLW
A reduction of up to £2.4 billion over the decommissioning lifetimes of nuclear sites could be one of the many benefits from increased levels of recycling, combustion, super-compaction and other measures for dealing with radioactive low level waste (LLW), a recent meeting was told.
06 September 2011
Risks that impact geological disposal
A newly published register of the top level risks sets out factors which could impact the delivery of a geological disposal facility for higher activity radioactive waste.
02 September 2011
Keeping track of progress
The NDA has launched a revised format for the online recording of sites’ progress towards their decommissioning targets.
26 August 2011
Industry Guidance launched for road-testing
The NDA has launched the first issue of a guidance document for the interim storage of Higher Activity Waste packages.
19 August 2011
An album fit for a Queen
The Queen was presented with a photo album of historic royal visits to Dounreay during her annual summer holiday at Balmoral.
04 August 2011
Bradwell brings the house down
Bradwell’s skyline is set to dramatically change with the systematic demolition of the main turbine hall at Bradwell Power Station - the site’s largest single building.
02 August 2011
Focus on opportunities for smaller businesses
The NDA and its main contractors have begun a collaborative drive to develop practical strategies for supporting smaller businesses seeking work in the decommissioning sector.
15 July 2011
100th flask leaves Chapelcross site
Chapelcross site has safely shipped the 100th flask of spent fuel to Sellafield, marking a significant decommissioning milestone.
11 July 2011
Financial Year Highlights - 2010/2011
A special edition of the NDA’s news magazine Insight has been published to accompany the publication of our Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11.
21 June 2011
Dounreay Competition - are we nearly there yet?
The final stages of the Dounreay Parent Body Organisation (PBO) competition start in late summer when the two bidding consortia will lodge bids.
21 June 2011
R&D Advisory Panel Annual Report 2009-10 published
RWMD reports on activities of the independent expert group (R&D Advisory panel) evaluating the strategy and programme underpinning the implementation of a geological disposal facility.
20 June 2011
Nuclear swap shop saves millions
A nuclear swap shop for surplus equipment has delivered savings of almost £5 million in just three months.
15 June 2011
£8m engineering centre gearing up for students
Construction has been completed on a new £8.8 million Engineering Technology & Energy Centre (ETEC) at North Highland College.
15 June 2011
Skills development supported in north Scotland
As the Dounreay site heads towards closure, a £2.3 million skills development programme, ‘Make the Right Connections’, has been launched, aimed at helping local people benefit from new job opportunities.
15 June 2011
Supply chain focus on nuclear in Wales
More than 300 delegates met in Llandudno to learn about opportunities for working in the nuclear industry in North Wales.
08 June 2011
Support for communities facing job losses
The NDA is investing millions of pounds to support the retraining of site workforces in regions that are particularly vulnerable to the impact of future closures.
08 June 2011
Nuclear partners agree on staff transfers
An agreement has been signed to enable staff transfers between the Magnox sites and EDF Energy, which operates the UK’s existing fleet of nuclear power stations and is developing plans for the next generation.
08 June 2011
Sites step on the accelerator
Two Magnox sites are pushing ahead with work to accelerate decommissioning and reach the 'Care and Maintenance' milestone years ahead of schedule.
07 June 2011
Waste firms join ILW programme
Six specialist firms have signed up to support the Magnox Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) programme.
07 June 2011
'Orphan' waste treatment and disposal route plan
Teams at Sellafield are celebrating after successful trials to establish a new treatment and disposal route for contaminated Low Level Waste (LLW) oil, a historic waste that has until now been regarded as a challenging ‘orphan’ waste.
07 June 2011
Unique project clears sludge from Sellafield pond
A new machine that sucks up sludge is helping to safely decommission the world’s largest open air nuclear fuel storage pond.
07 June 2011
Industry accolade for rail subsidiary
The NDA’s rail transport subsidiary Direct Rail Services (DRS) has collected a prestigious industry award as the UK’s ‘Best Performing Rail Freight Operator’.
07 June 2011
Land to be marketed for development
The eastern area of the Harwell site is now on the verge of de-designation, enabling the land to be marketed for commercial development.
07 June 2011
Return of land enables private-sector investment
With thousands of trees, several nature reserves, a stone circle and 19 nuclear sites, management of the NDA’s landholdings is, to say the least, a varied challenge.
07 June 2011
Waste disposal is the last option
There are few visible signs of the intense drive that has been taking place over the last few years to develop alternative ways of dealing with the Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) produced around the UK.
07 June 2011
Funds support harbour expansion
Scrabster is the UK’s most northerly mainland port, lying sheltered from the powerful tides that race through the Pentland Firth between the Scottish mainland and the Orkneys.
07 June 2011
That caps it - tallest chimney sealed
Dounreay’s tallest chimney has been sealed, above, marking a visual end to a £10 million project.
07 June 2011
Excavations to start on waste vaults
Construction work is due to start later this year on a shallow, permanent disposal facility for waste material that has accumulated at Dounreay over the years.
07 June 2011
Tanks create the right atmosphere
Installation of two new 27-tonne nitrogen tanks for the Dounreay Fast Reactor breeder building marks another notable step forward in preparation for taking apart the redundant reactor.
07 June 2011
Collaboration on decommissioning techniques
New waste management techniques and technologies were under the spotlight when members of the Nuclear Waste Research Forum (NWRF) gathered at Dounreay for their latest quarterly meeting.
09 May 2011
Environment Agency commends nuclear industry
The UK nuclear industry’s environmental performance is good, according to an analysis by the Environment Agency.
28 April 2011
Geological Disposal R&D overview published
We set out research and development (R&D) needs in the preparatory studies phase of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme.
28 April 2011
Geological disposal technical strategy published
Our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) has published its Geological Disposal: Technical Strategy to support the preparatory stages of geological disposal programme for higher activity radioactive wastes in the UK.
27 April 2011
Dialogue continues with Norwegian partners
A high-level UK delegation attended a conference in Norway as part of the ongoing dialogue between Sellafield and Nordic stakeholders.
18 April 2011
Independent Chair appointed to Research Board
Following independent advice, the NDA has appointed eminent nuclear consultant Stan Gordelier as the Chair of its Research Board.
11 April 2011
How it all fits together
Revised guidance clarifies respective roles and responsibilities of NDA and its principal contractors.
31 March 2011
Agreement signed with Canadian AECL
The NDA has just signed a bilateral agreement with Canadian organisation AECL following several months of discussion.
31 March 2011
UK-wide approach to HAW storage
A new UK-wide approach is being developed on the safe storage of higher activity waste (HAW).
31 March 2011
Top scientists on the right course
The NDA has welcomed a new masters degree course designed to train the next generation of top nuclear scientists.
14 February 2011
The role of nuclear power in smaller countries
How does a small country go about securing a nuclear reactor for electricity supply?
11 February 2011
Apprentice Beth presents winning plan
Apprentice Beth McKenzie’s inspired business idea has won the approval of Dragon’s Den judge Peter Jones at a national event for apprentices.
09 February 2011
Top environment award for Magnox
A highly innovative treatment being developed at Trawsfynydd for radioactive oil waste has scooped a prestigious UK environmental award.
07 February 2011
Research bursary call
The NDA is offering up to £500,000 over the next financial year to encourage university research projects that can contribute to its nuclear decommissioning and clean-up mission.
28 January 2011
Business Plan 2011-2014 consultation closes
The NDA has received 15 responses to the public consultation on its draft Business Plan for 2011 to 2014.
05 January 2011
Consultation on Draft Strategic Research Agenda
We have worked alongside other European waste managenent organisations to develop a strategic list of research activities related to implementing geological disposal.
14 December 2010
Permissions Schedule for geological disposal
The Permissions Schedule illustrates the sequence of activities needed to allow geological disposal to take place.
01 December 2010
Nuclear Investment in the Port of Workington
NDA and NMP fund a £5.7m socio-economic investment to fund an improvement programme at the Port of Workington in West Cumbria.
18 November 2010
Decommissioning sector set for growth
Decommissioning is set to expand in the years ahead as the world’s first generation of nuclear power stations reach the end of their lives.
16 November 2010
Support for small firms in north Scotland
North Highland Regeneration Fund supports business growth in 36 local companies resulting in 140 jobs secured in those firms over the previous three years.
15 November 2010
Feasibility study for spent fuel management
The work undertaken in these studies has identified that there are a number of feasible alternative options for the management of spent fuel from new nuclear power stations.
15 November 2010
NDA's Chief Executive interviewed on Annual Report
Tony Fountain, NDA's Chief Executive, talks about the recently published NDA Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/10.
12 November 2010
Views sought on proposed updates to specifications
Plans to update existing waste packaging specifications outlined.
11 November 2010
Waste Assessments annual report published
The 2009/10 Waste Assessment annual report has now been published
01 November 2010
UK first for reactors
In a first for the UK, Berkeley site has completed all the work necessary to close both its reactors and place them in a passive state, known as Safestore, until the site is finally cleared in around 60 years time.
01 November 2010
Passport to a skilled future
The Nuclear Skills Passport is being launched this autumn to set new standards in training and career progression.
01 November 2010
Earn and learn for apprentices
Hundreds of talented young people are entering the nuclear workforce through apprentice schemes that provide on-the-job training and first-class qualifications for the future.
01 November 2010
New ship docks in home port
The nuclear cargo ship Pacific Egret has docked in its home port of Barrow-in-Furness for the first time, the second of three new UK-flagged vessels that will transport nuclear fuel and waste between Europe and Japan over the next two decades.
01 November 2010
Magnox merger under way
Plans are well under way for the merger of Magnox North and Magnox South into a single company operating all but one of the UK’s Magnox nuclear sites (Calder Hall was the first Magnox reactor and it is located on the Sellafield site).
01 November 2010
Innovative solutions tackle site challenges
One of the most critical projects currently underway at Sellafield site is the construction of Evaporator D. It will deliver a new highly active liquid evaporator to support reprocessing operations and meet commitments to reduce levels of highly active liquor, processing it into a safe solid glass form suitable for long-term storage.
01 November 2010
Dounreay legacy
How to preserve the legacy of Dounreay, site of the UK’s unique experiment with fast breeder nuclear reactors, for future generations?
01 November 2010
Seabed exploration to retrieve particles
A floating platform anchored off the Dounreay shoreline is using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to track down fragments of nuclear fuel buried in the seabed.
01 November 2010
Waste to emerge from underground vaults
The radioactive contents of a series of underground vaults at Berkeley are scheduled to be brought to the surface over the coming years and put into safe storage, marking a key milestone in the extensive preparations needed to clear the site.
01 November 2010
Flexible approach is key to waste challenge
An integrated ILW Programme is now in place both across Magnox South and Magnox North as part of the ‘Programmisation’ strategy that has seen the establishment of specialist mobile teams to address different challenges across the estate.
01 November 2010
Strategy roadshow seeks views
An NDA team has been touring the country to encourage stakeholders to feed their views into the Draft Strategy, published for consultation at the beginning of September.
01 November 2010
Silicones - a flexible alternative to cement
Polymer-based materials have been developed as a potential way forward for challenging radioactive waste streams.
26 October 2010
Nuclear Engineering Doctorate – Call for Proposals
A consortium of UK universities is offering a fully funded Nuclear Engineering Doctorate (EngD). Proposals are invited from companies active within the UK nuclear sector for Engineering Doctorate projects.
21 October 2010
Developing guidance on waste packaging and storage
Store operators from across the UK came together for the first time to share experiences and discuss potential improvements on the packaging and storage of Higher Activity Waste (HAW).
06 October 2010
First funding for Scrabster Harbour redevelopment
Secretary of State confirms £2 million NDA contribution to Scrabster Harbour Trust’s plans.
23 September 2010
Eight research proposals aim for £4m funding
NDA’s Radioactive Waste Management Directorate and the Research Council Energy Programme consider proposals.
02 September 2010
Shared learning on new waste storage guidelines
A workshop later this month will consider a draft set of guiding principles that are being developed to assist the UK’s nuclear industry on the packaging and storage of higher-activity waste (HAW).
01 September 2010
Welsh Secretary of State visits Wylfa site
The Secretary of State for Wales, Rt. Hon. Cheryl Gillan, visited Wylfa site during a tour of North West Wales last week.
31 August 2010
Research reactor ZEBRA returns to grass
The final building associated with one of Winfrith’s experimental reactors has been demolished
27 August 2010
Fuel removal milestone at Chapelcross
Defuelling at Chapelcross site in Scotland reached a significant milestone this week as the 50th flask was safely shipped to the Sellafield for reprocessing.
26 August 2010
Commercial strategy update
Update on the development of our Commercial Strategy for surface based investigations phase of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) process.
18 August 2010
Insight into civil nuclear supply chain
NDA set to speak at event for SMEs on 27 September 2010 in Manchester, UK.
09 August 2010
Research provides design options
Independent research reviewed waste canister performance for underground disposal.
30 July 2010
Site representatives visit Dounreay
Stakeholders from around the country visited Dounreay to see how challenges are addressed.
30 July 2010
Forthcoming publications
List of material due to be published related to geological disposal of radioactive waste.
15 July 2010
Shared lessons on safety
A prestigious forum for safety reps around the UK came to Capenhurst last month.
15 July 2010
£4million research fund for geological disposal
Research funding for challenges associated with the implementation of a geological waste facility.
14 July 2010
Clean-up challenge
Removing spent fuel reduces 99% of the radioactive hazard, but leaves behind highly contaminated ponds.
13 July 2010
Scotland benefits from funding support
NDA funding is making a difference to Caithness, as members of the board were able to see
13 July 2010
Tackling the ponds clean-up
Innovation has transformed a clean-up challenge at the Bradwell ponds complex
13 July 2010
Dissolving waste could save £35 million
The amount of Fuel Element Debris (FED) requiring interim storage and final disposal is being drastically reduced, due to the success of an innovative technique spearheaded by the Magnox sites.
13 July 2010
Dedicated teams keep the lights on
The world’s two oldest operating Magnox power stations are continuing to safely generate electricity.
13 July 2010
Potential new use for land
Two parcels of land at the Capenhurst site in Cheshire have been removed from the legal restrictions that cover the NDA’s nuclear sites.
13 July 2010
Investment in learning facilities
The NDA works with partner organisations to support educational facilities
13 July 2010
Pioneering scheme builds all-round skills
A pioneering training scheme is proving to be hugely popular in the nuclear industry
13 July 2010
Obligation to clean up safely
Clare Spottiswoode, Chairman of EnergySolutions EU Ltd, talks about cleaning up the legacy waste.
13 July 2010
Landmark contract for MiniStores
German firm GNS Gesellschaft fÜr Nuklear-Service mBH signs contract worth up to £106 million.
12 July 2010
Fast track to safety
Transporting nuclear material by train is a highly specialised activity, carried out in the UK by NDA subsidiary company Direct Rail Services.
12 July 2010
Focus on the people we need
Well-qualified, skilled staff are a fundamental requirement for the complexities of decommissioning, a challenge the NDA is addressing with a wide range of initiatives.
12 July 2010
Weather protection
Hunterston A completes installation of weather barrier over the two reactor buildings.
09 July 2010
NDA chairs European geological disposal group
We collaborate with sister organisations responsible for geological disposal across the world.
08 July 2010
Woodland quarry site handed to community
A disused limestone quarry, Breakheart Quarry, near Berkeley Decommissioning Site has been handed over to the local community for development as a wildlife and recreational area.
06 July 2010
Plans for underground disposal of waste outlined
NDA outlines how a geological disposal facility could be implemented based on a voluntarism and partnership approach.
30 June 2010
Key graphite study assists disposal
UKAEA Ltd research aids understanding of graphite treatment and disposal options.
30 June 2010
UK/French Co-operation Agreement
CEA-NDA co-operation agreement signed in the field of radioactive waste management and dismantling and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
21 June 2010
Energy Island vision launched
Anglesey aims for world-class centre of excellence for energy developments.
25 May 2010
NDA announces bursary awards
Following a call in 2009 we are pleased to announce funding awarded to university projects.
24 May 2010
TWI completes NDA funded project
Capability of lasers in assisting decommissioning of nuclear facilities successfully demonstrated.
21 May 2010
NDA review of national engagement
The NDA has commissioned the Review to improve efficiency and effectiveness of its stakeholder engagement arrangements.
11 May 2010
Magnox North's best year of electricity generation
Magnox North, a company owned by EnergySolutions has ended the year on a high as the annual electricity generation figures have revealed another ‘record breaking’ total on our behalf.
10 May 2010
Call for innovative tenders in nuclear research
NDA is encouraged by proposals to invest up to £2 million in nuclear feasibility studies.
01 April 2010
Supply chain charter adopted
The NDA, SLCs and its suppliers have adopted a new charter that aims to foster good working relationships throughout all levels of the supply chain.
29 March 2010
Chief Executive addresses union conference
Chief Executive Tony Fountain told a conference of trade union members that the NDA need not be a victim in the forthcoming public sector cuts as it was in a strong position to implement a range of planned efficiencies.
19 March 2010
Magnox era draws to a close
The very last piece of fuel for a Magnox power station has finally been packed, ready for delivery.
19 March 2010
Sites inspired to innovate
Campaign is delivering significant savings and technological progress across the NDA estate
19 March 2010
Reprocessing spent fuel
A key area of responsibility for the NDA is managing spent fuel
19 March 2010
Ordinary land - what an achievement
After two decades of tough clean-up work, part of Harwell site will officially become an ordinary piece of land again this year.
19 March 2010
Innovative thinking to overcome challenges
NDA encourages and supports innovation as an essential part of its strategy, with the ultimate aim of overcoming the technical challenges posed by decommissioning and clean-up.
19 March 2010
High level waste returned overseas
The return of solid Highly Active Waste (HAW) from Sellafield to overseas customers began in January
19 March 2010
Berkeley sets the pace
When Berkeley Power Station stopped generating electricity, work began on decommissioning the site
19 March 2010
Dounreay competition gathers pace
Nuclear industry representatives from around the globe have been visiting Scotland as part of the process to find a new Parent Body Organisation (PBO) for the Dounreay site.
19 March 2010
Reviewing NDA's strategy
The NDA is reviewing and revising its first strategy for publication in April 2011.
19 March 2010
Metal recycling saves 95% for market
Contaminated material is now being stripped of radioactive content and recycled as valuable scrap metal, suitable for a whole variety of everyday industrial uses.
19 March 2010
A watchful eye on the site team
Richard Smith, Chair of the Sizewell Stakeholder Group, shares his thoughts on the group's work
19 March 2010
Flood recovery
The nuclear industry brought skills, expertise and resources to play an instrumental role in the recovery.
18 March 2010
So much cleaner than we thought!
Whoever wins the NDA’s latest competition will inherit a Site Licence Company that’s already made huge strides in hazard reduction.
17 March 2010
NDA gives Select Committee evidence
The NDA’s Sellafield Programme Director, Dr Ian Hudson, has been giving evidence to the North West Select Committee at the House of Commons.
02 March 2010
Shared experiences in Land of the Rising Sun
English and Japanese nuclear representatives share experiences on geological disposal facility (GDF).
01 March 2010
Partnership aims to meet demand for nuclear skills
Efforts are under way to meet the surging demand for high-level skills, estimated at 1000 per year.
18 February 2010
Ring main sets a shining example
A £4.2 million project to divert key pipework that provides cooling water at Wylfa has been completed on time and within budget.
28 January 2010
Software builds picture of radiation distribution
REACT Engineering Ltd, a Cumbrian engineering company, wins an NDA concept development contract to encourage innovative nuclear decommissioning and clean-up technologies.
27 January 2010
Lord Hunt recounts Sellafield tour
Energy Minister Lord Hunt has been touring the NDA’s Sellafield site as part of an energy fact-finding mission.
26 January 2010
NDA gives evidence to Select Committee
Answering questions on radioactive waste, the NDA was represented by Executive Director Richard Waite and Repository Technical Director Bruce McKirdy.
25 January 2010
Major hazard eliminated
Dounreay achieved yet another major milestone in January – with the completion of a seven-year project to clean up the dirtiest area of Dounreay’s uranium conversion plant.
15 January 2010
Sharing experiences on geological disposal
The NDA hosted a visit by a group of US experts on geological disposal in November 2009.
15 January 2010
Oldbury is best in the west
Oldbury Power Station’s communication team has been awarded top honours by a leading professional organisation.
08 January 2010
Sword of Honour for Dounreay
DRSL’s clean-up contractor has won the most prestigious international health and safety accolade
11 December 2009
Supply chain event
NDA staff supported a successful Meet the Buyer Event in North Wales.
18 November 2009
Asbestos: millions saved
Work to reduce a major asbestos hazard at the Chapelcross site could save up to £49 million.
18 November 2009
Keeping costs down
NDA is required to seek maximum value from existing assets to generate income to underpin costs of clean-up.
18 November 2009
The most complex nuclear site in Europe
The Sellafield site in West Cumbria is widely acknowledged as having the most significant challenges for the UK nuclear clean-up mission.
18 November 2009
Support offsets the impact of nuclear decline
When the NDA was formed, a key concern raised by communities was the potential economic impact from the eventual closure of nuclear facilities that once employed thousands of people, often in remote parts of the UK.
18 November 2009
Efficiency will be the key
Tony Fountain's NDA to streamline operations and concentrate on dealing with the nuclear legacy.
18 November 2009
Working towards best solutions
Proposal for continued availability of disposal routes for Low Level radioactive waste consulted on.
18 November 2009
Long search for permanent solution
The Government has launched a search for the final home of our higher activity radioactive wastes.
18 November 2009
Lasers ready for trial
Cutting-edge lasers are now ready for demonstration in the nuclear decommissioning process.
18 November 2009
Pictorial archive owes debt to Eric
A fascinating collection of old images is being painstakingly preserved thanks to the dedication of long-serving Harwell photographer Eric Jenkins.
09 November 2009
Waste Assessments annual report published
The most recent Waste Assessment annual report has now been published
09 November 2009
International workshop on managing waste safely
Cumbria meeting updated stakeholders on varied countries' solutions for managing radioactive waste.
09 November 2009
Europe discusses geological disposal
European countries are working together in the PAMINA Project to develop geological disposal
06 November 2009
World class safety record
The SLC responsible for managing and operating five of our sites achieved its best safety performance.
02 November 2009
Europe Supports Geological Disposal
EC Joint Research Centre report published on geological disposal of radioactive waste
29 October 2009
Top Training Award
Magnox South’s innovative training project wins top national award
27 October 2009
Nuclear Gems In The Making
DIAMOND’s first meeting was a resounding success according to the NDA's Dr Melanie Brownridge
23 October 2009
Supply chain charter
The NDA is seeking views on a draft charter that aims to foster good working relations throughout its supply chain.
20 October 2009
Lord Hunt renews invitation to communities
Lord Hunt, Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), has reminded local communities about the opportunity to consider hosting a geological disposal facility.
09 October 2009
Oldbury pioneers new waste technique
Oldbury Power Station has pioneered a new method of dealing with waste sludge
17 September 2009
Newsletter highlights work with US
The NDA and US Department of Energy are co-operating on producing a joint newsletter that aims to underpin the nuclear partnership between the countries.
10 September 2009
Wylfa wins top environmental honours
Wylfa has been awarded top UK honours in an environmental award scheme run by the British Safety Council.
10 September 2009
Dungeness doubles up
Both Dungeness reactors are now defuelling following roof repairs.
26 August 2009
NDA drives improvement
NDA drives increased decommissioning, better safety and cost reduction at Dounreay.
06 August 2009
Removal of Dounreay Monster Tanks begins
Cranes lift four Dounreay monster tanks out of the prototype fast reactor steam generation building.
06 August 2009
New ventilation system for Dounreay
A new ventilation system has been installed at Dounreay as part of the next stage of the decommissioning process.
27 July 2009
Trial shows way forward
Case to be made for use of Dungeness site's pioneering ILW MiniStores project elsewhere in the Magnox estate.
15 July 2009
"Pigs" might clean pipes
An innovative pipe-cleaning technique could save money and time as well as minimise waste.
10 July 2009
Dounreay says goodbye to largest hazard
Dounreay is close to destroying the largest single hazard from its fast reactor research and development programme.
26 June 2009
International co-operation on tackling challenges
As we prepare our International Relations Strategy, we look at agreements with international partner organisations.
24 June 2009
Increased visibility of funding for communities
Communities around NDA sites will now be able to see more clearly how and where the NDA invests its socio-economic budget.
19 June 2009
Stakeholders have their say
Over 100 stakeholders gathered in Manchester as part of the NDA’s commitment to consult and engage with people from around the UK.
16 June 2009
NDA hosts global nuclear partnering meeting
More than 70 delegates from 17 countries gathered in Manchester last month to pool their knowledge and experience of taking nuclear energy forward.
05 June 2009
Support for everyone in the supply chain
We have now published our final strategy for optimising the use of the supply chain throughout the NDA estate.
02 June 2009
‘Reactorsauraus’ to tear Dounreay apart
It sounds like something from a sci-fi thriller, but ‘Reactorsauraus’ is the latest innovation to help decommission Dounreay.
20 May 2009
Dissolving waste could save £35 million
A unique piece of plant that dissolves intermediate level waste could generate a saving to the taxpayer of £35 million.
01 May 2009
Shared knowledge ensures efficient decommissioning
Committed teamwork across Magnox South sites enabled a significant step in hazard reduction at Bradwell, with the partial draining of the reactor-cooling pond at the end of March.
24 April 2009
R&D Strategy for GDF published
Following extensive consultation we published our Research and Development Strategy for Geological Disposal Facility.
26 March 2009
Skills strategy moves forward
NDA's strategy to build centre of excellence moves on with planning application submitted to Copeland Borough Council.
25 March 2009
NNL Recommended Bidder selected
We welcome the DECC announcement of Recommended Bidder for commercial operator for National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
23 March 2009
CEO highlights key role for suppliers in GDF
Suppliers attended a workshop on Geological Disposal Facility (GDF)implementation in Birmingham in January.
19 March 2009
Learning from the United States
NDA learns about the successes and lessons learnt via US experience of geological disposal facilities.
18 March 2009
International deliberation on waste management
2,000 delegates from around the world gathered in Pheonix, US, at the largest annual conference on radioactive waste management.
27 February 2009
Top Leader at Wylfa
Greg Evans, Site Director of Magnox North’s Wylfa Site, wins award for Leadership.
27 February 2009
NDA encourages innovation
170 delegates gathered to hear about the decommissioning programme and supply chain opportunities this week.
24 February 2009
Hi-tech worm probes underground pipeline
A hi-tech ‘worm’ has been used to probe an underground pipeline, used to discharge radioactive effluent from Dounreay between 1957 and 1992.
20 February 2009
Yellow box trial
An innovative approach to dealing with the storage of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) is to be road-tested at NDA’s Dungeness A site.
20 February 2009
NDA and Japan build closer links
NDA delegation meet to exchange ideas on areas for technical information exchange and co-operation in Japan.
30 January 2009
Plutonium Credible Options
Draft Plutonium Credible Options attracted 44 stakeholder responses https://auth.nda.gov.uk/images/Insight-Oct-09-frontcover250x177.jpgthat we used to redraft and restructure the options.
28 January 2009
Prime Minister welcomes NDA land nomination
Gordon Brown welcomed NDA nomination of land for Government's Strategic Siting Assessment for nuclear new build.
23 January 2009
NDA to support research and technology
We are seeking proposals from institutions and companies for their research and technology to progress our mission.
16 January 2009
Dungeness A solution addresses global safety alert
A defuelling shift team at Dungeness A has come up with new way of working, in response to a global decommissioning safety alert.
16 January 2009
New Year and Way Forward
New Year wishes abounded as around 50 members of the West Cumbria Site Stakeholder Group (WCSSG) gathered on the 8th of January at the Sellafield Centre for their first quarterly meeting of 2009.
16 January 2009
Go ahead for roof replacement
Approval to start critical safety work on replacing the roof on reactor 1 at Dungeness A has been given the green light.
08 January 2009
Ukraine Delegates visit Harwell
UK and Ukraine are collaborating closely on radiological safety and security. Sixteen delegates from Ukraine visited UKAEA’s Harwell site in mid November.
08 January 2009
Dounreay win award
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd’s Training and Development arm, Training at Naver, took the business partnership award at the 2008 final of Careers Scotland’s training and development team National Excellence Awards in Glasgow.
08 January 2009
Consultees ensure SEA is robust and objective
In 2008 we sought confirmation from nature conservation, heritage and environmental regulators that their interests are covered in our plans to assess the impact of our strategies on the environment.
07 January 2009
Winfrith WETP
In less than two years, the Waste Encapsulation Treatment Plant (WETP) at Winfrith in Dorset has almost fully delivered its mission.
07 January 2009
Dungeness SSG
Mark England, Site Director, updated the Dungeness SSG on recent initiatives on site.
24 December 2008
Comments sought on Supply Chain Strategy
NDA has underlined its commitment to promote a healthy decommissioning supply chain by publishing the first consultation on a strategy for its development.
22 December 2008
Harwell’s BEPO matches NHS Anniversary
As the National Health Service celebrated its 60th anniversary so too did the UK’s 2nd nuclear reactor, British Experimental Pile ‘0’ (BEPO).
19 December 2008
Oldbury and Berkeley Joint Stakeholder Group Meet
Over 80 people attended the annual joint meeting of the Oldbury and Berkeley Site Stakeholder Groups in mid November.
18 December 2008
Berkeley Reactors head towards Care & Maintenance
Magnox reactors at Berkeley in Gloucestershire will be the first in the UK to enter a Care and Maintenance phase.
17 December 2008
Low Level Waste Initiatives could save Billions
Potential savings of between £2bn and £3bn could be knocked off the total cost of dealing with low level and very low level waste.
17 December 2008
Landscape changes at Sizewell and Hinkley
Whilst buildings exteriors might remain the same, inside work crews start the decommissioning and clean-up process.
17 December 2008
Improving Safety Standards at NDA Sites
We now measure health, security, safety and environmental performance of our site contractors on an equal footing.
17 November 2008
Storage Review Stakeholder Workshop
A stakeholder workshop on the NDA’s draft Higher Activity Waste Storage Review, provided many comments and views which will be used to reshape the document before it is published.
12 November 2008
Geological Disposal Facility Workshop
Around 50 people attended a two-day workshop to discuss strategies relating to the plans to implement a Geological Disposal Facility.
12 November 2008
Another change to the skyline
The changes to the skyline at Chapelcross are continuing as the decommissioning and clean-up programme enters yet another historic phase.
12 November 2008
NSG addressed by Chairman
NDA Chairman Stephen Henwood told the National Stakeholder Group meeting about a number of key developments.
12 November 2008
Robots dismantle Dounreay plant
Robots are set to take over from human staff to dismantle the uranium fuel reprocessing plant at Dounreay.
12 November 2008
Winfrith SSG
Sandra Ellis, Chairman, welcomed over 30 people to the 8th Site Stakeholder Group meeting in Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall in October.
12 November 2008
Springfields waste options
Springfields Fuels Ltd is working on an Integrated Waste Strategy for the site which will include a contingency for dealing with very low level waste after the current facility is no longer available.
12 November 2008
Consultation on Draft Business Plan 2009-2012
The NDA has published its draft Business Plan 2009-12 for consultation. Stakeholders are invited to submit their views by 26 January 2009.
12 November 2008
New Skills Learned
A decommissioning project has resulted in staff learning new skills at Sizewell A when the site wanted to dispose of a redundant Gas Circulator Bowl
07 November 2008
Plutonium Options
The comment period on our draft plutonium options paper closed with more than 40 responses submitted.
06 October 2008
Biggest demolition project completed
The biggest demolition project on a UK nuclear site has been completed at the NDA’s Capenhurst site in Cheshire.
06 October 2008
Springfields’ Salute to the Magnox Era
Springfields Fuels Ltd has taken the opportunity to produce a brochure commemorating the Magnox power station era.
06 October 2008
Winfrith's DRAGON loses its fire
Winfrith's High Temperature Nuclear Reactor, DRAGON, left in superb condition for next phase of decommissioning in 20 years time.
06 October 2008
Future decommissioning at Wylfa
Stakeholders living around Wylfa are being invited to comment on the Site’s Environmental Impact Assessment for the Decommissioning Project (EIAD).
06 October 2008
Oldbury SSG meeting
Oldbury Site Stakeholder Group met at the village hall in Oldbury -on-Severn at the beginning of August.
06 October 2008
World Leader Ambitions for Harwell Campus
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is aiming to be in the vanguard of global centres of science and innovation.
06 October 2008
Hinkley Recycling Initiative is a UK First
Hinkley Point A staff rose to the challenge posed by the problems of decommissioning and cleaning up cooling ponds.
24 September 2008
Support for Developing Supply Chain
Almost 100 representatives from the supply chain have showed a commitment to helping the NDA shape its proposed Supply Chain Development Strategy.
20 August 2008
Dounreay criticality building
The clean up of Dounreay’s plutonium criticality research facility is now complete and building is scheduled for demolition by the end of summer 2008.
20 August 2008
Entente cordiale on radioactive waste
Bilateral agreement with the French national radioactive waste management organisation ANDRA on how to manage and dispose of radioactive waste.
20 August 2008
LLW Strategy Group Meets
The 2nd meeting of the NDA National Low Level Waste Strategy Group took place in June as work on developing the national strategy gathers pace.
20 August 2008
Dounreay Culture Change
Dounreay used to be at the bottom of the NDA’s league table for site safety but a new initiative has improved it significantly and it's now in the Top10.
20 August 2008
Dounreay shaft project
The first phase of decommissioning Dounreay’s waste shaft is nearing completion.
20 August 2008
Capenhurst Safety First
Capenhurst’s “Safety First” initiative is attracting a lot of attention not only from other NDA sites but from outside of the nuclear industry.
14 August 2008
Plutonium options study
Comment sought on plutonium options study for the future management of the UK civil nuclear plutonium stockpile.
11 July 2008
Stakeholders helping shape NDA's next Strategy
Stakeholders’ views help to develop the NDA’s next Strategy. The 6th meeting of the National Stakeholder Group gave an opportunity for stakeholder involvement in early stages in the strategy development process.
11 July 2008
NDA Chairman sets out top priorities
Chairman, Stephen Henwood, set out his top priorities for the NDA when he gave his first address to the National Stakeholder Group meeting in Edinburgh.
11 July 2008
Project to demolish UK's first nuclear fuel plant
Decommissioning the facility started in 2001 and is now nearly finished with the last remaining storage tubes being removed and the site remediated over the next few months to meet the agreed Winfrith End State.
11 July 2008
Comments sought on Supply Chain Strategy
NDA has underlined its commitment to promote a healthy decommissioning supply chain by publishing the first consultation on a strategy for its development.
09 July 2008
Decommissioning Developments
As well as the regular Local Stakeholder Group meetings, Capenhurst also hosts an annual public meeting and updated on Decommissioning Developments.
09 July 2008
Safe & Secure Sites
NDA looks at all scenarios which could be applied during the clean-up and decommissioning of all its sites.
09 July 2008
NDA 2nd Health & Safety Conference
Over 220 delegates attended the NDA’s second annual Health & safety “Leading, Learning and Sharing” conference which took place in Nottingham in mid May.
09 July 2008
World Class Safety
Dr Ian Roxburgh praised the health and safety record of NDA sites at the recent Health and Safety Conference in Nottingham.
22 May 2008
Minister Visits Trawsfynydd
The Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, visited Trawsfynydd at the end of April to get a first hand view of how nuclear waste is dealt with.
22 May 2008
Dungeness Carbon Dioxide Tanks
Co2 tanks formerly used to cool the nuclear reactors at Dungeness power station are now enjoying a new lease of life providing a valuable service to the oil exploration industry.
21 May 2008
Police Authority Role
NDA’s Head of Security, Safeguards and Non-proliferation, Dr Janet Wilson, has been appointed a member of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority.
21 May 2008
High Tech in Rural Essex
About 50 people turned out on a sunny Spring day for the Bradwell site Local Community Liaison Council meeting near Mundon in the heart of rural Essex.
21 May 2008
National Low Level Waste Strategy
The NDA is leading on the development of a UK-wide Low Level Waste (LLW) Strategy for nuclear sites, working with UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd.
21 April 2008
Recycling helps decommissioning at Capenhurst
Recycling is top of the agenda at Capenhurst and has been so successful it enabled some decommissioning work to become self-financing.
21 April 2008
Discussion papers on LLW Mangement published
The NDA’s Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Materials Department has published three discussion papers on the issues around Low Level Waste and are inviting comments from stakeholders.
17 April 2008
Harwell Stakeholder Groups' scientific advances
Some of the UK’s leading companies involved in science and innovation are based on the Harwell-Chilton Campus and are represented at the local Stakeholder Group meeting.
17 April 2008
LLWR contract signing marks historic day for NDA
NDA and UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd made history when they signed the contract for the management and operation of the Low Level Waste Repository, near Drigg in West Cumbria.
17 April 2008
Standardising for decommissioning contracts
Work to standardise contracts for nuclear clean-up started on April 1. The Supply Chain Improvements Project has standardised ‘flowdowns’ – the terms the NDA requires its SLC’s to include in their contracts.
17 April 2008
NDA hosts major international scientific workshop
The NDA’s Radioactive Waste Management Directorate recently hosted a three-day international workshop in Oxford that marked the start of the new phase of the DECOVALEX project, D-2011.
13 March 2008
European Commission Praises NDA Website
The NDA’s website has been praised by the European Commission in its Second Report which was published at the end of 2007.
13 March 2008
Milestone achieved in Berkeley decommissioning
A significant milestone in the decommissioning of Berkeley Nuclear Licensed Site was achieved at the end of 2007.
13 March 2008
NDA Documents Hierarchy
The Energy Act 2004 provides the legal basis for the existence of the NDA and details the requirements for production of all major documents such as the Strategy, Business Plan and Annual Report.
11 March 2008
Awards for aspiring youngsters
Springfields Fuels Limited has held its annual apprentice awards, recognising the achievements of young engineers and business administrators.
11 March 2008
Springfields Trust Fund aids local charities
Employees at the Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing plant near Preston have donated much-needed equipment to two local charities.
25 February 2008
Business Plan consultation attracts 126 responses
The NDA has received 126 responses to its consultation on the Draft Three-year Business Plan – that compares to just 19 in response to last year’s old format Annual Plan.
25 February 2008
Value Framework
The NDA has established a project which will help stakeholders understand the processes it uses to determine how funding should be allocated across its entire estate.
25 February 2008
Go ahead for £6 million Waste Treatment Plant
A new £6 million Waste Treatment (Metal Recycling) Facility to be built near Workington in West Cumbria will help the NDA and its contractors implement the waste hierarchy.
25 February 2008
Forging closer international relationships
The NDA is forging closer links with its international counterparts to share experience and develop innovation in the approach to decommissioning and cleaning up the world’s nuclear plants.
25 February 2008
NDA Backs Magnox North Innovation Awards
The NDA has long contended that innovation would ultimately reduce the cost of decommissioning and there was no shortage of innovative ideas at the Magnox North 4i Awards ceremony.
25 February 2008
Innovators face the Dragons Den
Putting forward an innovative idea for an award may be daunting enough for some but staff of Magnox North found themselves in the “Dragon’s Den” when their submissions came under interrogation.
08 January 2008
Sizewell Site Stakeholders Meet
The SSG discussed waste, NDA Draft Business Plan, protests at 'B' station, the role of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and socio-economic opportunities.
07 January 2008
NDA staff raised £6,000 for charities
Staff from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority raised an amazing £6,000 for charity at a staff event which took place in Glasgow in the summer.
07 January 2008
Good News on Berkeley Sports and Social Club
Following a meeting with the Club the NDA is hoping to grant them a long lease for the facility.
07 January 2008
Fourth Stage of End States Project Completed
The fourth stage of the NDA’s Site End States project has been completed with stakeholder events held in London, Warrington and Edinburgh. A report will be published in Spring 2008.
07 January 2008
Hazard Baseline Project Underway
A special Hazard Baseline Project will help the NDA focus its resources on hazard reduction and to help demonstrate progress in this task.
07 January 2008
Online Asset Transfer Scheme Developed
The NDA and its Site Licence Companies have developed an online Asset Transfer database to advertise unwanted equipment which could potentially be used on other sites.
07 January 2008
New Group will help NDA develop Waste Strategies
The NDA has established a new Waste Management Strategy Group which gives the Regulators and Site Licence Companies the opportunity to influence and help the development of future waste strategies.
10 December 2007
Developing the Magnox Operating Plan
The NDA set out the work it is co-ordinating with its Site Licence Companies to develop the new Magnox Operating Plan (MOP), which covers the reprocessing cycle for spent fuel at Sellafield.
10 December 2007
Decommissioning Priorities
NDA's Adrian Simper explained to delegates at the National Stakeholder Group meeting the processes used to decide on priority work at its sites.
10 December 2007
NDA Quizzed on a Range of Topics
Delegates at National Stakeholder Group (NSG) meeting extended their plenary session to question the NDA’s Executive Team on a host of topics covered in the recently published Draft Business Plan 2008-2011.
10 December 2007
National Stakeholder Group Challenges NDA Thinking
Stakeholders took advantage of the National Stakeholders' Meeting to debate the content and thinking behind the NDA’s Draft Three-year Business Plan 2008-2011.
30 November 2007
Hunterston SSG Meeting
It was a busy day for members of the Hunterston SSG with a visit to the Strategic Co-ordination Centre at Prestwick Airport prior to their full meeting in November.
08 November 2007
Competitions
Update on all NDA competitions including LLWR, Sellafield Ltd and pause on Magnox competition.
08 November 2007
Radioactive waste
The NDA's responsibilities for higher hazard radioactive waste is significantly increased.
08 November 2007
Socio-economic support
Work to help the communities living near NDA sites continues as set out in the Socio-economic Policy.
08 November 2007
Achievements
The NDA has achieved many significant milestones since it published its Strategy in 2006.
08 November 2007
Commercial activities
Operation of facilities and installations maximise the commercial value contributes to fund
decommissioning and clean-up.
08 November 2007
Dealing with higher hazards
NDA’s Chief Executive re-iterates its priority of dealing with the higher hazard facilities.
08 November 2007
Draft Business Plan
NDA’s three-year Draft Business Plan outlines how the NDA will allocate funding to meet its strategic objectives.
31 October 2007
Berkeley and Oldbury SSG Autumn Meeting
Penny Wride, Chairman of Berkeley Site Stakeholder Group welcomed colleagues from Oldbury SSG when they hosted their joint meeting at the Cattle Country Adventure Park in October 2007.
31 July 2007
Issues Groups on waste
Two Issues Groups were set up at the first meeting of the National Stakeholder Group in 2005. One focuses on Waste Management Issues and the other on the Management of Nuclear Materials.
31 May 2007
Reactor Sites Gain Top Safety Award
BNG Reactor Sites Management team were joint winners of the Engineering Construction sector at the recent Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awards.
31 May 2007
History Made at Sizewell SSG
Sizewell Site Stakeholder Group made history when it met in December as it became the first official group to use the new Aldeburgh Community Centre.
01 May 2007
SSG Leaders visit Sellafield
Chairs and vice-chairs from 10 Site Stakeholder Groups took up an invitation from Dr Ian Roxburgh
to visit the Sellafield site at the end of March 2007.
01 May 2007
WIG final report to NSG
Members of the Waste Issues Group prepare final report to go to the National Stakeholder Group.
01 May 2007
Socio Economic Committee
David Rhind was appointed independent chairman of the NDA Board Socio-Economic Committee, which considers funding proposals from established socio-economic organisations.
01 May 2007
NDA Spend in 2008
The Government has approved the NDA's Annual Plan 2007/08. The plan sets out how the NDA intends spending its £2.79 billion budget over the financial year.
01 May 2007
Nuclear Academy moves a step closer
The £19 million Nuclear Academy based, in West Cumbria, which will be a world class centre of excellence for nuclear skills development moved a step closer in March.
01 May 2007
Managing Radioactive Waste
The Government is about to launch a consultation on a framework for implementing geological disposal.
01 May 2007
New approach to vitrification
A three per cent increase in the amount of high level waste being vitrified in blocks of glass at Sellafield will potentially save the NDA millions of pounds.
01 May 2007
Stakeholder Engagement Process
The National Stakeholders' Group meeting in December 2006 challenged the NDA to review how it engages with stakeholders.
01 May 2007
NDA Competition Update
Update on the competition to secure a Parent Body Organisation (PBO) for the Magnox South Site Licence Company (SLC)and the Sellafield Parent Body Organisation Competition.
01 May 2007
Dealing with waste
The initial findings from a research study to identify opportunities to reduce waste and save money at NDA sites are providing Site Licence Companies with valuable best practice information for the first time.
01 May 2007
Skills Strategy Workshop
This workshop, attended by almost 60 delegates,was convened by the NDA to
consider the availability of, and demand for, key skills in the Health Physics and Radiation Protection sector.
01 May 2007
PhD Opportunities
Nexia Solutions, under contract with the NDA, is seeking proposals for doctoral projects to support its decommissioning and clean-up mission.
30 March 2007
NSG input to End States
The National Stakeholder Group provided feedback on outstanding issues relating to the End States Consultation at their meeting in Birmingham in November.
30 March 2007
Communities have their say
Local communities have the opportunity through consultation to express their views on how they would like the site to be used once decommissioing is complete.
30 March 2007
Outline of Reconciliation Process
The Reconciliation Process will review recommendations for preferred End States submitted by the Site Stakeholder Groups which identify all of the potential End Use options for the sites. This process will run from April to September 2007.
01 March 2007
SSG approach to consultation
How the Site Stakeholder Groups aproached the consultation to express views on how they would like the sites to be used once decomissioning and clean-up is complete.
01 March 2007
Regional Events Lessons Learned
The NDA conducted regional stakeholder workshops to share experiences,
information and lessons learned from the End States consultation process.
29 December 2006
Accident Free Hunterston A
Staff at Hunterston A have celebrated five years without a lost time accident.
29 December 2006
Dungeness Accident Free Record
Dungeness A celebrated a significant safety milestone on 23rd October as the day marked four years without a lost time accident in over 5.5 million man hours worked.
29 December 2006
NuLeAF in stakeholder discussions
The NDA was amongst the participants in a series of nationwide seminars with the theme of Managing the Nuclear Legacy: Issues for Local Government
29 December 2006
100 Years Ahead of Schedule
Due to result in real innovation the Steam Generated Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) at Winfrith in Dorset is one hundred years ahead of schedule.
29 December 2006
Draft Socio-Economic Policy
The NDA is inviting views from stakeholders on its draft Socio-Economic Policy during a three-month
consultation period which runs until 19 January 2007.
29 December 2006
Dungeness Reduces Waste
Unique plant technology reduces costs and increases effectiveness of process for waste disposal.
01 December 2006
Government Waste Decision
NDA Engineering Director, Richard Waite, welcomed the Government's approval of the CoRWM recommendations for dealing with higher activity nuclear wastes.
01 December 2006
PhD Students
Nine PhD research students were successful in their bids for fully funded NDA bursaries in the field of Nuclear Science and Technology studies.
01 December 2006
Relationship with Norway
As part of the ongoing process of building and maintaining relationships with foreign governments, Richard Mrowicki, Head of Stakeholder Relations, visited Norway.
01 December 2006
Bright Ideas in Abundance
The NDA had a huge response to the invitation for submissions for ideas for decommissioning and clean-up to help us achieve our mission.
01 December 2006
Land de-licensed at Harwell
NII issued Harwell a change to the Nuclear Site License. It de-licensed a 7 hectare area following a case submitted demonstrating there was no danger from ionising radiation.
01 December 2006
Dounreay Shaft
Retrieving waste from the shaft at Dounreay is a major decommissioning and clean-up project which posed challenges for UKAEA and its contractors.
01 December 2006
Wylfa SSG
About thirty people attended the meeting which is conducted in the Welsh language with an English translation service.
01 December 2006
3D Benefits Decommissioning
3D technology is having a real practical application for UKAEA at Winfrith giving health benefits to workers and a new dimension in access for stakeholders.
01 December 2006
Winfrith Sludge
The Waste Encapsulation Treatment Plant (WETP)at Winfrith is a totally unique one-off facility built entirely to deal with the legacy of sludge created by the Seam Generating Heavy Water Reactor.
01 December 2006
Pipes Decommissioned
A staggering six kilometres of pipe work has been processed as part of the High Enriched Uranium decommissioning project at Capenhurst.
01 December 2006
Closer links with Scotland
Representatives from Dounreay Stakeholder Group visited their Chapelcross colleagues in September as they continue to build closer relationships.
01 December 2006
Stakeholder Enagement Arrangements
Dialogue by Design and 3KQ have now taken over as convenor of the NDAs National Stakeholder Group having replaced the Environment Council in
November 2006.
31 October 2006
Health and Safety Commitment
The NDA make clear absolute commitment to health and safety and expect our contractors to deliver a high standard in HSSE performance.
31 October 2006
Improvements in Safety
The NDA intends to improve contractors
performance and their ability to
deliver sustained excellence in health, safety, security and the environment issues.
31 October 2006
NDA Operations Boosted
Higher electricity prices boosted the NDA’s income from its four operating Magnox Nuclear Power Stations, Wylfa, Oldbury, Dungeness and Sizewell A.
31 October 2006
First HSSE Report Published
The first annual report on the Health,
Safety, Security and Environmental
performance of the NDA and its
contractors has been published.
