liabilities built up over half a century of nuclear activities was key to gaining public acceptance for new nuclear power stations led the government to establish the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority( NDA) in 2005.
In addition to tackling the nuclear legacy, the NDA was given responsibility for managing the UK ' s remaining civil nuclear assets and delivering best value for the taxpayer. This included conducting research and advising government on options for future management of the UK ' s civil plutonium stockpile, which in 2005 was around 80 tonnes.
The issue was complex and required a detailed evaluation of strategic and commercial issues. Because it ultimately involved a choice between using the plutonium to fuel future reactors( a resource) or disposing of it safely( a liability), it was declared in the NDA accounts as a“ zero value asset”.
Inside the Sellafield Product and Residue Store
Over the last two decades the NDA has undertaken numerous studies to consider the various complex issues involved. Meanwhile, commercial reprocessing, which continued at Sellafield until 2022, increased the size of the civil plutonium stockpile to around 141 tonnes – over half the global total. The plutonium is held under rigorous security, safeguards and material accountancy controls at Sellafield.
After many years ' deliberation by successive administrations, in January 2025 the government announced its decision that the UK ' s civil plutonium stockpile is to be immobilised and disposed of as waste. The aim is to put the material permanently beyond the reach of terrorists and rogue states by producing a stable product for longterm storage and eventual disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility( GDF).
Due to the radioactive and fissile nature of plutonium, specialist handling and storage facilities are required. There are a number of plutonium stores on the Sellafield site. The aim is to gradually transfer all plutonium into the most modern facilities such as the Sellafield Product and Residue Store( SPRS).
The Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant( SRP) is currently being constructed to repackage and, where appropriate, re-treat the existing plutonium packages, enabling their safe storage for at least 100 years. The majority of plutonium is stored as dioxide powder, and new technology is required to convert this into a stable rock-like ceramic form suitable for disposal. The government is investing £ 154 million over five years to design, install, and operate specialist laboratories to develop and trial two potential technologies – Disposal MOX( DMOX) and Hot Isostatic Pressing( HIP). Government funding is also being provided towards the establishment of a Plutonium Ceramics Advanced Hub in partnership with the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield.
12 Radiation Protection Today www. srp-rpt. uk