Published at 16:03, Wednesday, 16 July 2008

SELLAFIELD’S MOX fuel business has suffered another embarrassment after the French nuclear safety authorities spotted an alleged certification problem over the status of plutonium sent from Sellafield to France on May 21.

As a result of the mistake, the UK Department of Transport has slapped a ban on any further plutonium movements from Sellafield until the issue is resolved. Sellafield Ltd has immediately issued a legal appeal to fight the prohibition order.

The French Cap la Hague plant had been enlisted to fulfill MOX contracts Sellafield’s SMP had been unable to fulfill. The plutonium had been sent from Sellafield to France to be turned into MOX fuel. But the French then claimed there were problems with the relevant Certificate of Approval for the shipment.

A Department for Transport Spokesman said: “Following an investigation, DfT has issued a prohibition notice on Sellafield Ltd. This Prohibition Notice covers the transport of plutonium from Sellafield UK to Cogema, Cap la Hague, France. The company failed to abide by the terms of its Certificate of Approval. “There was no danger to any member of the public, the workforce or the environment as a result of this transport operation, nor was there any release of radioactive material.”

A spokesman for Sellafield Ltd said: “Sellafield Ltd has received a prohibition notice from the Department for Transport (DfT) relating to a transport of nuclear material. Together, Sellafield Ltd and International Nuclear Services have a 40-year history of successful nuclear transports carried out safely and with regulatory compliance – therefore, we take this matter very seriously and Sellafield Ltd has decided to appeal. Accordingly, we are unable to comment any further.”

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk