Plutonium deal brings security benefits
3 Jul 2014 04:02 PM
The Nuclear
Decommissioning Authority can conduct a series of plutonium title transfers
with legacy overseas reprocessing customers, the Government has
agreed.
The Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority can conduct a series of plutonium title transfers with legacy
overseas reprocessing customers, the Government has agreed.
These transfers essentially
exchange ownership of plutonium between two countries, removing the need to
physically move it. Title transfers offer a cost effective and beneficial
arrangement which allows the UK to gain national control over more of the civil
plutonium in the UK and avoids the need to physically transport separated
plutonium because of the associated significant security
measures.
In detail the NDA
is:
-
Taking ownership of about 800 kg
of material previously owned by a Swedish Utility.
-
Taking ownership of about 140 kg
of material previously owned by a German research
organisation.
These transactions will not
result in any new plutonium being brought into the UK and will not increase the
overall amount of plutonium in the UK. The financial benefits to the UK of
taking ownership are considered to be sufficient to offset the estimated long
term cost of managing that plutonium in the UK.
Notes for
editors:
- Written
Ministerial Statement by Michael Fallon
- The Government’s consultation response to
the long-term management of UK-owned separated civil
plutonium