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Blog posted by: Martin Leafe, 24 January 2017 — Waste management.

Reprocessing nuclear fuel

We have more than 50 years’ experience in reprocessing spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield.

My teams are responsible for taking spent fuel and reprocessing it. In simple terms, we separate out the reusable uranium (96%) and plutonium (1%) from the high level waste (3%),  allowing 97% of the used fuel to be recycled.

The uranium is then made available to customers who can manufacture new fuel from it.

2018: THORP reprocessing operations will end

Sellafield’s Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) began reprocessing operations more than 20 years ago.

THORP reprocesses the oxide fuels from EDF’s power stations and overseas customers.

The decision was taken in 2012 to close THORP in 2018, once reprocessing of the current contracts is complete.

It would have taken billions of pounds to upgrade THORP and its support plants to allow it to continue running beyond 2018. This was not a viable option. Instead, funding will be directed towards work to decommission and remediate the site.

Once the plant stops operating, it will enter into a Post Operations Clean Out phase. This is the stage of the plant's life prior to dismantling and decommissioning,  where the remaining radioactive and non-radioactive materials are removed.

Not all of THORP will close in 2018. The receipt and storage pond will continue to receive and store the fuel from the UK’s operational reactors for many years to come.

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