UK Government consults on options for Dounreay plutonium

February 07, 2011

Plutonium from the fast reactor research programme at Dounreay is held securely meantime

The UK Government today announced a consultation on options for the long-term management of plutonium currently held at Dounreay and Sellafield.

The consultation paper set out three options:

  • Reuse as fuel. This would see the material contributing to fuel stocks for new or existing reactors and ultimately being disposed of as spent fuel.
     
  • Immobilisation and direct disposal as waste.
     
  • Continued long term storage.

The UK Government’s preliminary view is that the best prospect of delivering a long-term solution for plutonium management is through a reuse as MOX (mixed oxide).

The consultation runs until May 10.

Plutonium consultation launched - Department of Energy and Climate Change press release and link to consultation paper

 

Bookmark and Share