UK Government Consultation On Plutonium Management

11th February 2011

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.

Details can be found at - http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_011/pn11_011.aspx