People in North West England are set to benefit from 拢154m in government funding to develop specialised capabilities for safely disposing of the UK鈥檚 civil plutonium stockpile.聽
The stockpile is plutonium produced as a by-product of nuclear power, currently stored at Sellafield.聽
Plans are underway to lock it in stable forms for long-term disposal, reducing security risks and environmental hazards.
The investment, spanning five years, is expected to support around 100 jobs, mostly in Cumbria, after the government confirmed it would lock away plutonium from spent nuclear fuel to keep it safe long-term.
The funding will allow the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, working with supply-chain partners, to design, install and operate specialist laboratory facilities at Sellafield.聽
Experts will use the labs to test and refine the technology needed to lock plutonium away in a stable, safe form.聽
Work will focus on early research and development over the next two years, with 50 people already in post.
A further 拢2.5m is being invested to establish a 拢5m Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub in partnership with the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield, aimed at developing the technical expertise required for the programme.
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鈥淭he NDA group is already leading the way in nuclear decommissioning and safely managing the UK鈥檚 most hazardous radioactive materials,鈥� said David Peattie, NDA CEO.
鈥淭his government investment will allow us to drive forward this important national policy, building cutting edge facilities and growing world-leading expertise and capability in plutonium immobilisation, providing a safe, secure and permanent solution.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strong vote of confidence in our ability to safely, securely, and sustainably deal with the UK鈥檚 civil nuclear legacy to benefit future generations.鈥�
Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, added: 鈥淐umbria has a proud nuclear history, and this new investment will unlock pioneering technology to manage our nuclear waste.聽
鈥淎longside the 100 jobs from this research, thousands more will be supported over the course of the plutonium immobilisation programme and see billions invested in the region, boosting the local economy.鈥�
Two immobilisation technologies are being explored – Disposal MOX (DMOX), which produces ceramic pellets for disposal, and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), which creates a rock-like ceramic material under high pressure and temperature.
Progress is already underway with two laboratories being installed at Sellafield.聽
The next phase of the programme involves seeking approval for a major plutonium disposition facility, including a nuclear material processing plant and interim storage capability in the same location.