Plutonium deal brings security benefits
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority can conduct a series of plutonium title transfers with legacy overseas reprocessing customers, the Government has agreed.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority can conduct a series of plutonium title transfers with legacy overseas reprocessing customers, the Government has agreed.
These transfers essentially exchange ownership of plutonium between two countries, removing the need to physically move it. Title transfers offer a cost effective and beneficial arrangement which allows the UK to gain national control over more of the civil plutonium in the UK and avoids the need to physically transport separated plutonium because of the associated significant security measures.
In detail the NDA is:
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Taking ownership of about 800 kg of material previously owned by a Swedish Utility.
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Taking ownership of about 140 kg of material previously owned by a German research organisation.
These transactions will not result in any new plutonium being brought into the UK and will not increase the overall amount of plutonium in the UK. The financial benefits to the UK of taking ownership are considered to be sufficient to offset the estimated long term cost of managing that plutonium in the UK.