UK moves towards safe disposal of world's largest plutonium stockpile
The United Kingdom plans to bury radioactive waste from a former nuclear power plant in a designated nuclear burial site. The immobilisation process will involve transforming plutonium into a form akin to ceramic or stone. Experts describe it as a "positive step".
We recently reported on Sweden's plans, which have already commenced with the construction of a large nuclear repository for radioactive waste near its nuclear power plant. Now, the UK is adopting a similar approach. The British government has decided to dispose of its stockpile of 139 metric tonnes (154 tons) of radioactive plutonium, currently stored at a secure facility in Sellafield, Cumbria. Similar to the Swedes, they intend to bury it deep underground. This is the largest amount of plutonium in the world, originating from nuclear fuel reprocessing.
The collected plutonium was to be reused
Plutonium is produced from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, which—as BBC describes—can be observed through thick, leaded glass with a yellowish glow, undeniably illuminating its high level of radioactivity. For many years, plutonium was collected in a form that allowed for it to be reprocessed into new nuclear fuel. However, the British government has now decided that this material will no longer be reused, opting instead to secure it deep underground.
Previous governments maintained plutonium to preserve the option of its reuse. However, storing this substance in its current form is both costly and complex, as the radioactive material must be regularly repackaged due to the detrimental effects of radiation on its containers. Moreover, its protection by armed guards incurs costs of around 70 million pounds annually (converted to US dollars, that's over 86 million USD).
This is a step towards the final disposal of plutonium
The UK government has determined that the safest and most economical solution is to "immobilise" the entire stockpile of plutonium. This means a facility will be constructed in Sellafield where the plutonium will be transformed into a durable material with a structure resembling rocks, allowing it to be safely stored in deep geological deposits.
UK's energy minister, Michael Shanks, as quoted by the BBC, stated that the goal is to secure this material in a form that minimises long-term risk during storage and prepares it for final disposal.
Experts call it a "positive step"
Nuclear materials expert Dr. Lewis Blackburn from the University of Sheffield explained that the plutonium will be transformed into a ceramic material, which is solid and stable, though still radioactive, making it safe for storage.
Nuclear waste expert Prof. Claire Corkhill from the University of Bristol acknowledged that the government’s decision was a "positive step". As she told the BBC, this will pave the way for eliminating the costs and risks associated with storing plutonium at Sellafield "by transforming and enclosing it in a solid, durable material that will last millions of years in a geological repository." "These materials are based on those we find in nature—natural minerals that we know have contained uranium for billions of years," she added.
Currently, the government is in the early stages of a lengthy technical-political process regarding the selection of a suitable site for building a deep geological facility designed to store the most hazardous radioactive wastes. This facility is expected to be ready no earlier than 2050.
