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Home > Our Strategy > Nuclear Materials  

Nuclear Materials

The UK has large stocks of

  • spent nuclear fuel;
  • uranic materials;
  • plutonium (from the reprocessing of spent fuel);
  • Magnox Depleted Uranium (MDU – a by-product of Magnox reprocessing);and
  • "hex tails" (a by-product of the uranium enrichment process).

We will continue to ensure that nuclear materials are stored

  • safely;
  • securely; and
  • without endangering the environment for this and future generations.

We will provide advice, as appropriate, to the Government's Energy Policy Review.

We will engage with the Management of Nuclear Materials Issue Group of the recently established UK National Stakeholder Group to consider the most effective management strategies for civil nuclear materials.

Key Issues Our Approach
Uranics

The proportions of uranic materials to be regarded as strategic stock (for example, as a potential future energy source) or waste.

Whether we should look for a third party to deal with conversion of the hex tails into a passively safe form.

We propose to discuss with the Government what proportion of civil owned material should be retained as a potential energy source.

We will seek appropriate solutions for dealing with uranics such as

  • contracting with a UK nuclear licence site holder to convert the material into a passively safe form;
  • contracting with an overseas operator to convert the material; and
  • constructing a new facility at one of our sites to carry out this work.
Plutonium

The proportions of the plutonium stock to be regarded as strategic stock or waste.

How and when plutonium belonging to overseas customers should be returned to them:

The Government’s policy is for the return of plutonium derived from THORP reprocessing as MOX fuel for electricity generation.

However, the ability to do this will depend on the successful commissioning of the Sellafield MOX plant.

The disposition options for UK plutonium that is declared as waste.

We propose to discuss with the Government

  • what proportion of the civil plutonium stock should be regarded as a potential energy source;
  • whether any portion of the civil plutonium stock should be regarded as a potential energy source;
  • whether any portion of the civil plutonium stock should be regarded as waste, the arrangements for dealing with such material and funding implications; and
  • the arrangements for the repatriation of foreign owned plutonium.