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Written question asked by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 January 2017 (named day). It was answered by Jesse Norman (Conservative) on Friday, 20 January 2017 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.


Sellafield

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) emptying the Pile Fuel Storage Pond at Sellafield, (b) full radiological and toxicological decontamination of that pond and (c) conditioning, packaging and final long-term management of the spent nuclear fuel recovered from that pond.

Answer

The safe decommissioning of the Pile Fuel Storage Pond is a priority of the hazard and risk reduction programme at Sellafield. The entire bulk stocks of historic nuclear fuel have now been removed from this nearly 70 year old facility, and the assessed radioactive hazard risk associated with the facility has been reduced by 70%.

The current life time plan budget for emptying the Pile Fuel Storage Pond of fuel and waste, and decommissioning the facility in line with the agreed end state for the Sellafield site is approximately £1bn.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60332
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Costs Radioactive waste Sellafield
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk