[Financial Times, 23 October] The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) at Sellafield, UK, is reportedly set to restart full commercial operations in the new year. The used nuclear fuel recycling facility has been shut down since April 2005 after the discovery of a tube break in a highly radioactive part of the facility. It was found that some 83 cubic metres of radioactive nitric acid had leaked from a holding tank into the surrounding concrete containment shell. The leak had gone undetected for several months. The plant operator was given regulatory approval to restart Thorp in January 2007, but problems with equipment that evaporates moisture at the end of the reprocessing cycle led to delays. Thorp recently completed the reprocessing of 30 tonnes of fuel that was in the system when it was shut down. Sellafield Ltd said that it was hopeful that the problems with the evaporators would be solved soon and that Thorp could resume commercial operations in early 2008. The company said, "We are hoping to start the next batch of fuel in the new year." The plant's owner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), said that the plant's shutdown meant it had lost GBP112 million ($227 million) in income in the 2006-07 financial year.
Further information
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Sellafield Ltd
WNA's Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom information paper
WNN: Thorp products may be sent in advance of recycling
WNN: Thorp report calls for sustained excellence
WNN: Thorp approved for restart
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