Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Annual Report and Accounts 2015 to 2016
Our annual report and accounts 2015/16 highlights major milestones in hazard reduction as we decommission the UK’s historic nuclear sites.
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This is the report on NDA performance in the financial year 2015 to 2016. It includes an overview from the Chief Executive Officer, audited financial statements, a summary of key milestones and activities for each of the Site Licence Companies and subsidiaries. A sustainability report is available separately.
NDA Chief Executive John Clarke said:
This year we have demonstrated real progress towards our objective to decommission old nuclear facilities across the UK and reduce related hazards. In particular, the decommissioning of Sellafield’s aging Pile Fuel Storage Pond, has led to a 70 per cent reduction in radioactivity levels.
Our continued offsetting of costs through commercial income, which totalled £1 billion last year, coupled with our commitment to improve the use of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, means we are delivering significant value for the UK taxpayer, alongside our core mission to clear up Britain’s nuclear legacy.
During a successful 2015/16 financial year, the milestones include:
NDA estate finances
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NDA’s third Strategy was published after a period of consultation with stakeholders and outlines long-term priorities
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the current estimate for the future clean-up costs across the UK is around £117 billion (£161 billion discounted), spread across the next 120 years or so. Last year’s estimate was £118 billion.
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increased savings from collaborative procurement, which combines demand in goods and services across the estate, to almost £87 million, compared to the previous year’s £65 million savings
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achieved 22 per cent of spend with SMEs which is on trend for achieving the overall target of 31 per cent with this group of suppliers by 2020. The total 2015-2016 supply chain spend was almost £1.76 billion
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achieved more than £1 billion of commercial income of through contracts for reprocessing and management of spent fuels, electricity generation at Wylfa and ongoing asset disposal
Sellafield
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reduced radioactivity levels by 70 per cent in Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Storage Pond, through removal of the entire bulk stock of metal fuel. This 1940s facility is the world’s oldest open-air fuel storage pond and one of the site’s most hazardous legacy facilities.
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for the very first time, begun removing bulk quantities of radioactive sludge from another ageing facility, the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond
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achieved a research breakthrough in understanding the characteristics of waste at the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo, allowing much simpler treatment and potentially saving hundreds of millions of pounds.
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set up new management arrangements for Sellafield Ltd, effective from 1 April, replacing the previous private-sector ownership model with a simpler structure. Now owned directly by the NDA, the structure will allow for better long-term planning and greater efficiencies, while accommodating complexities and uncertainties more easily.
Magnox
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completed the removal of spent fuel from the nuclear power station at Oldbury, thus removing 99 per cent of the radioactive hazard from the site
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continued defueling and preparing for decommissioning the nuclear power station at Wylfa on Anglesey following closure in December 2015 after almost 45 years of operation - 5 years later than originally planned generating £785 million in extra revenue for the UK taxpayer
Dounreay
- made good progress on transferring nuclear material to Sellafield, where it will be consolidated with similar material in safe, secure storage until a long-term disposal route is agreed
Low Level Waste Repository
- continued to divert material away from the Low Level Waste Repository to alternative treatments such as recycling, combustion and use of licensed landfill sites, bringing the total diverted to 89 per cent of material, reducing demand for space at the facility