Nuclear industry in crisis?

Court action follows critical Commons report on plant 

A Commons committee has released a report criticising the management of Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, just days before court action is due to start against the plant for illegal dumping of waste, in a week that could be devastating the reputation of the nuclear industry.

The report claims that Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), the private consortium that manages Sellafield, has failed in its task to reduce the rising costs and delays in dealing with waste and decommissioning facilities. The report points out that, out of the 14 major projects at Sellafield, 12 were behind schedule, five were over-budget and only two were actually running properly, despite the NMP being given £54m to cover fees.

The plant in Cumbria is facing claims of poor management and illegal dumping of waste

(Image source - www.visitcumbria.com)

Margret Hodge MP, chair of the committee, said ‘Taxpayers are not getting a good deal from the arrangement with Nuclear Management Partners. Furthermore, now that Cumbria county council has ruled out West Cumbria as the site of the proposed geological disposal facility, a solution to the problem of long-term storage of the waste is as far away as ever’.

The report, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Managing Risk at Sellafield, points out that about £1.6bn is being spent annually at the site, where a variety of hazardous materials, including 82 tonnes of plutonium, are kept. The total lifetime cost of dealing with this has continued to rise each year and has now reached £67.5bn.

The management at Sellafield will face further criticism when it appears in court this week facing nine charges relating to claims that four bags containing radioactive material were dumped in a landfill at Lillyhall without permission.