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Sellafield Thorp site to close in 2018 | Sellafield Thorp site to close in 2018 |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Sellafield's Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) in Cumbria is to close in 2018, it has been confirmed. | Sellafield's Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) in Cumbria is to close in 2018, it has been confirmed. |
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said it had completed its strategic review of the options for the management of oxide fuels. | The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said it had completed its strategic review of the options for the management of oxide fuels. |
It said processing contracts would be completed by 2018, at which time Thorp would cease reprocessing activities prior to decommissioning. | It said processing contracts would be completed by 2018, at which time Thorp would cease reprocessing activities prior to decommissioning. |
Prospect union said the announcement was a "great disappointment". | |
The NDA said many of the 800 workers should be found work elsewhere at Sellafield. | |
Prospect National Secretary Mike Graham said they would press the company for discussions about potential redeployment. | |
He said: "The closure will see a reduction in the numbers employed on the plant once operations cease, with only a fraction of the existing staff remaining during the clean-out phase prior to decommissioning." | |
An NDA spokesman said it had published three options for the Thorp site in March last year which had been under consultation. | An NDA spokesman said it had published three options for the Thorp site in March last year which had been under consultation. |
The options were to close Thorp without completing contracts, to close it after completing the contracts or to extend the life of the plant by looking for new contracts. | The options were to close Thorp without completing contracts, to close it after completing the contracts or to extend the life of the plant by looking for new contracts. |
'No cliff edge' | 'No cliff edge' |
The NDA board agreed with the preferred option of closing after completing the contracts. | The NDA board agreed with the preferred option of closing after completing the contracts. |
The spokesman said the decision was due to falling demand for reprocessing and the relatively low cost of uranium. | The spokesman said the decision was due to falling demand for reprocessing and the relatively low cost of uranium. |
If Thorp was to continue running beyond 2018 it would require a multi-billion pound upgrade, he added. | If Thorp was to continue running beyond 2018 it would require a multi-billion pound upgrade, he added. |
The spokesman said there would be "no cliff edge" of job losses in 2018 as once the plant stops operating there would be a two-year period of post operations. | The spokesman said there would be "no cliff edge" of job losses in 2018 as once the plant stops operating there would be a two-year period of post operations. |
The NDA said the review confirmed its position that completing the reprocessing contracts at Thorp remained a viable and cost-effective strategy. | The NDA said the review confirmed its position that completing the reprocessing contracts at Thorp remained a viable and cost-effective strategy. |
Oxide fuels include the remaining overseas-derived spent fuels that are being stored at Sellafield before reprocessing at Thorp and also the spent fuels from the UK's fleet of Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor power stations, which are owned and operated by EDF Energy. | Oxide fuels include the remaining overseas-derived spent fuels that are being stored at Sellafield before reprocessing at Thorp and also the spent fuels from the UK's fleet of Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor power stations, which are owned and operated by EDF Energy. |
The Thorp site started operating in 1994. | The Thorp site started operating in 1994. |