By Matthew Legg

Last updated 11:43, Thursday, 31 July 2008

THE closure of the Chapelcross nuclear power station came a step closer this week when the site was given permission to start de-fuelling.

Go-ahead: It will take three and a half years to remove all fuel from Chapelcross

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has given formal consent for a three-and-a-half year programme to remove all fuel from the Scottish plant to commence.

Chapelcross ceased generation in 2004 and preparations for de-fuelling the reactors including design, manufacturing, installation and the commissioning of a £30m upgrade to the de-fuelling route have now been completed.

Chapelcross’s decommissioning reached a spectacular landmark in May 2007 with the demolition of the site’s iconic cooling towers.

Thousands watched from all over the world as the 295ft cooling towers, which took three years to build, were reduced to rubble within 10 seconds. The area is now being landscaped.

About 400 tonnes of fuel must be removed from Chapelcross and transported to Sellafield in west Cumbria for reprocessing.

Removal of about 3,500 tonnes of asbestos lagging is also necessary.

Both schemes are due to keep Chapelcross’s near 600-strong workforce going for up to the next four years.

The plant is one of ten Magnox sites at various stages of their operational lifecycle being managed by EnergySolutions on behalf of owners, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Site director Dave Wilson said: “This is a major step forward in the decommissioning programme for Chapelcross site.

“The main focus for the next three-and-a-half years will be the safe de-fuelling of the site’s four Magnox reactors and the transportation of the fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing.

“This is also a very significant part of the national programme for the closure, de-fuelling and decommissioning of the UK’s Magnox reactor sites.”

MLegg@cngroup.co.uk