What will happen to all the plutonium at Sellafield?
On 31st December 2001, there were over 60 tonnes of UK separated civil plutonium stockpiled mostly at Sellafield. This stockpile could climb to over 100 tonnes by about 2012. There have recently been suggestions that at least some of this plutonium should be treated as nuclear waste. There was also almost 17 tonnes of plutonium at Sellafield owned by BNFL’s foreign customers. This could grow to 37 tonnes by 2012. These overseas electricity companies will need to decide what they want to do with their plutonium. Some companies may decide to ask BNFL to covert it into MOX fuel in the Sellafield MOX Plant.
