Engineering news
Five nuclear facilities across the UK have been identified as potential sites to store waste from disused nuclear-powered submarines.
Following an assessment of UK’s nuclear sites, five were considered suitable and have been placed on a provisional shortlist.
The facilities, which already hold radioactive materials, are either owned by the Ministry of Defence, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority or industry, have been named as part of MoD’s submarine dismantling project.
Sites which are selected will be used as an interim storage site for reactor components (from submarines that have left naval service) until after 2040, when the UK’s geological disposal facility is planned to come into operation.
Defence minister, Philip Dunne, said: “This is another step towards a safe and sustainable solution for the disposal of radioactive waste from our submarine fleet. All of the potential sites have a proven track record in handling radioactive material in a safe and secure way.
“We are committed to an open and transparent process and over the next year we will be working closely with local communities near to the potential sites as part of the consultation before a final decision is made.”
The five potential storage sites are: Atomic Weapons Establishment sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, Sellafield in west Cumbria, Chapelcross in Dumfriesshire and Capenhurst in Cheshire.
Currently 18 former Royal Navy nuclear submarines are stored afloat in Devonport and Rosyth, but the vessels can only be completely dismantled once the reactor components - which are categorised as radioactive waste - have been safely removed.
Nine submarines which are still in operation will also be dismantled under Royal Navy's submarine dismantling project, when they reach the end of their service lives. The initial dismantling process will support up to 60 skilled jobs.
A public consultation on the possible sites will take place in late 2014 and no decisions will be made until this process is completed.