NDA reports discovery that will accelerate Sellafield decommissioning

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) of the U.K. reported that a discovery has been made in relation to intermediate level waste (ILW) at the Sellafield decommissioning plant, they announced on Wednesday.

Scientists studying chemical behavior of ILW material at the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo. The NDA states that the process to treat this kind of material typically takes 22 steps utilizing mechanical means. The discovery made by scientists in this study suggests that this process could be accelerated into a three-step process that would save money and time.

“This research has delivered the underpinning to what could be a paradigm shift in the management of nuclear waste,” NDA Strategy and Technology Director Adrian Simper said. “Having a greater understanding of the long-term behavior of this material allows us to design a truly fit-for-purpose approach to its management and disposal. To be able to deliver a technical solution to historic ILW at Sellafield, which not only offers a safe and secure route but also opens up the possibility of a quicker and cheaper alternative to current technology, is a genuinely exciting development.”

This study was conducted by the NDA, the National Nuclear Laboratory and Sellafield, in partnership with the University of Leeds, University of London South Bank and University of Bristol.