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UK's plutonium stockpile dilemma | UK's plutonium stockpile dilemma |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Rob Broomby File on 4 | By Rob Broomby File on 4 |
Britain has accumulated the biggest stockpile of civil plutonium in the world. What was once a valued asset is now viewed as a costly liability and a target for terrorists. | Britain has accumulated the biggest stockpile of civil plutonium in the world. What was once a valued asset is now viewed as a costly liability and a target for terrorists. |
Previous attempts to deal with the stockpile have gone wrong and the government now faces a dilemma. Should it try to turn the stuff into nuclear fuel or write off the plutonium altogether? | Previous attempts to deal with the stockpile have gone wrong and the government now faces a dilemma. Should it try to turn the stuff into nuclear fuel or write off the plutonium altogether? |
Amid tight security at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, is a store holding most of Britain's stockpile of plutonium. | Amid tight security at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, is a store holding most of Britain's stockpile of plutonium. |
The UK is currently home to 112 tonnes of what is the most toxic substance ever created - and most of it is held in a modern grey building to one side of the site. | The UK is currently home to 112 tonnes of what is the most toxic substance ever created - and most of it is held in a modern grey building to one side of the site. |
Such is the sensitivity surrounding the building and its contents that only a handful of staff, with the necessary security clearance, are allowed inside. | Such is the sensitivity surrounding the building and its contents that only a handful of staff, with the necessary security clearance, are allowed inside. |
Estimates suggest that the taxpayer currently spends £80m a year to store it safely and stop it from falling into the wrong hands. | Estimates suggest that the taxpayer currently spends £80m a year to store it safely and stop it from falling into the wrong hands. |
Adrian Simper, Director of Strategy and Technology for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which now owns the site, admits the threat from terrorists is an ever-present risk. | Adrian Simper, Director of Strategy and Technology for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which now owns the site, admits the threat from terrorists is an ever-present risk. |
"It is an active management constantly requiring expenditure of taxpayers' money and constantly managing the risk of having that material," he says. | "It is an active management constantly requiring expenditure of taxpayers' money and constantly managing the risk of having that material," he says. |
Experimental nuclear reactors | Experimental nuclear reactors |
So how did such a costly situation develop? | So how did such a costly situation develop? |
In the early years of Britain's nuclear programme it was forecast that the world's supply of uranium, the basic fuel for civilian nuclear technology, would rapidly run out. | In the early years of Britain's nuclear programme it was forecast that the world's supply of uranium, the basic fuel for civilian nuclear technology, would rapidly run out. |
It was a prediction that later turned out to be wrong. However, at the time Britain singled out plutonium as an alternative. | It was a prediction that later turned out to be wrong. However, at the time Britain singled out plutonium as an alternative. |
The material, extracted from reprocessed nuclear waste, was stockpiled as a source of fuel to power a new breed of experimental nuclear reactors. | The material, extracted from reprocessed nuclear waste, was stockpiled as a source of fuel to power a new breed of experimental nuclear reactors. |
But in the 1990s the reactor programme was cancelled on the grounds of cost and safety. | But in the 1990s the reactor programme was cancelled on the grounds of cost and safety. |
Only a small amount of plutonium had been used up and the stockpile grew further when Britain subsequently agreed to take in nuclear waste from abroad. | Only a small amount of plutonium had been used up and the stockpile grew further when Britain subsequently agreed to take in nuclear waste from abroad. |
The aim was to turn it into plutonium and return it to its country of origin for a fee. | The aim was to turn it into plutonium and return it to its country of origin for a fee. |
But, to date, none of the foreign owners have shown much practical interest in having it back. | But, to date, none of the foreign owners have shown much practical interest in having it back. |
Foreign owned plutonium now accounts for a quarter of Britain's entire stockpile. | Foreign owned plutonium now accounts for a quarter of Britain's entire stockpile. |
Adding to the pressure is the fact that Sellafield continues to produce plutonium at its Thorp reprocessing plant. | |
The site, overlooking the Irish Sea, is a huge complex stretching a third of a mile long. | The site, overlooking the Irish Sea, is a huge complex stretching a third of a mile long. |
Each year it produces between four and six tons of plutonium, all of it adding to the stockpile. | Each year it produces between four and six tons of plutonium, all of it adding to the stockpile. |
So, while one arm of Sellafield is looking at ways of safely disposing of the plutonium, another is churning it out on a daily basis. | So, while one arm of Sellafield is looking at ways of safely disposing of the plutonium, another is churning it out on a daily basis. |
The question facing the government now is what to do with this most deadly of substances. | The question facing the government now is what to do with this most deadly of substances. |
Their favoured option is to transform the plutonium into fuel that can be used in nuclear power stations. | Their favoured option is to transform the plutonium into fuel that can be used in nuclear power stations. |
Equipment failures | Equipment failures |
It would involve building a factory that can turn plutonium into something called Mixed Oxide Fuel. | It would involve building a factory that can turn plutonium into something called Mixed Oxide Fuel. |
"The advantage for the UK is massive," says Sir David King the former science adviser to Tony Blair. | "The advantage for the UK is massive," says Sir David King the former science adviser to Tony Blair. |
"We end up generating a large proportion of our energy needs from fuel that is available in this country," he says. | "We end up generating a large proportion of our energy needs from fuel that is available in this country," he says. |
However, the cost of building the technology needed is estimated at between £5bn and £6bn. | However, the cost of building the technology needed is estimated at between £5bn and £6bn. |
And the plan has been tried before. On that occasion, it failed miserably. | And the plan has been tried before. On that occasion, it failed miserably. |
Back in 1993 British Nuclear Fuels got approval to build a Mox fuel plant not unlike the one proposed today. | Back in 1993 British Nuclear Fuels got approval to build a Mox fuel plant not unlike the one proposed today. |
In 2006, a report by the consultants that originally recommended the idea, cited problems at the plant. | In 2006, a report by the consultants that originally recommended the idea, cited problems at the plant. |
It listed 6,000 minor equipment failures in just two months. | It listed 6,000 minor equipment failures in just two months. |
It said the plant was "beset with difficulties" and the production line was "fragile and difficult to manage". | It said the plant was "beset with difficulties" and the production line was "fragile and difficult to manage". |
The Mox plant never reached a satisfactory level of production. When it closed, in March 2011 it had produced around 1% of what was expected. | The Mox plant never reached a satisfactory level of production. When it closed, in March 2011 it had produced around 1% of what was expected. |
The BBC has learned that the final cost to the taxpayer was £1.4bn. | The BBC has learned that the final cost to the taxpayer was £1.4bn. |
So, what is the logic of trying to revive the plan? | So, what is the logic of trying to revive the plan? |
"We believe we have learnt the lessons of the past," says Adrian Simper from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. | "We believe we have learnt the lessons of the past," says Adrian Simper from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. |
"There is no reason why a future Mox plant should not be very successful," he says. | "There is no reason why a future Mox plant should not be very successful," he says. |
The government will also have to be mindful of other practicalities before returning to this technology. | The government will also have to be mindful of other practicalities before returning to this technology. |
Of all the nuclear power stations in Britain only one, at Sizewell in Suffolk, is capable of using Mox fuel but it has not yet been licensed to do so. | Of all the nuclear power stations in Britain only one, at Sizewell in Suffolk, is capable of using Mox fuel but it has not yet been licensed to do so. |
Potentially valuable asset | Potentially valuable asset |
It would therefore fall to those building new nuclear power stations to use it. But, so far, they are reluctant to do so. | It would therefore fall to those building new nuclear power stations to use it. But, so far, they are reluctant to do so. |
Treating plutonium as waste, and disposing of it in a safe underground repository for thousands of years, is another option being considered. | Treating plutonium as waste, and disposing of it in a safe underground repository for thousands of years, is another option being considered. |
The idea has gained traction with those who argue it sends out a better message to the world, including countries like Iran, about the use of nuclear materials. | The idea has gained traction with those who argue it sends out a better message to the world, including countries like Iran, about the use of nuclear materials. |
Critics say burying waste is risky and, even then, the plutonium would have to be treated before it could go into the facility. | Critics say burying waste is risky and, even then, the plutonium would have to be treated before it could go into the facility. |
Supporters of plutonium as a fuel claim that would be throwing away a potentially valuable asset. | Supporters of plutonium as a fuel claim that would be throwing away a potentially valuable asset. |
On top of that, we are not likely to have a repository for decades and very few local authorities have volunteered to consider having it in their back yard. | On top of that, we are not likely to have a repository for decades and very few local authorities have volunteered to consider having it in their back yard. |
The policy took a blow when Cumbria Country Council blocked plans for a nuclear repository in January 2013. | The policy took a blow when Cumbria Country Council blocked plans for a nuclear repository in January 2013. |
Whatever the government decides will prove politically controversial and costly to the taxpayer. | Whatever the government decides will prove politically controversial and costly to the taxpayer. |
The legacy of Britain's plutonium stockpile will be with us for years to come. | The legacy of Britain's plutonium stockpile will be with us for years to come. |
Hear the full report on File on 4 on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 19 February at 20:00 GMT and Sunday, 24 February at 17:00 GMT. Listen again via the Radio 4 Radio 4 website or the File on 4 podcast. | Hear the full report on File on 4 on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 19 February at 20:00 GMT and Sunday, 24 February at 17:00 GMT. Listen again via the Radio 4 Radio 4 website or the File on 4 podcast. |
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