UK Government options for plutonium
The UK Government today announced a consultation on options for the long-term management of plutonium currently held at Dounreay and Sellafield.
The consultation paper sets out three options:
- Reuse as fuel. This would see the material contributing to fuel stocks for new or existing reactors and ultimately being disposed of as spent fuel.
- Immobilisation and direct disposal as waste.
- Continued long term storage.
The UK Government’s preliminary view is that the best prospect of delivering a long-term solution for plutonium management is through a reuse as MOX (mixed oxide).
The consultation runs until May 10.