DECC approves Sizewell B spent nuclear fuel storage plan

25 July 2011, source edie newsroom

Approval for a plan to store spent nuclear fuel at a controversial power station has been granted.

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Plans for the storage at Sizewell B, in Suffolk, were green lighted by energy minister Charles Hendry following a six week consultation.

Currently spent fuel from the plant's reactor is stored in a storage pond, but this is expected to run out of room in 2015.

Construction on the storage is due to get underway next year, with the new facility operational in 2015.

The decision comes despite anti-nuclear groups, including Greenpeace, highlighting potential security flaws at the site in the past.

EDF Energy owners of the power station, built between 1988 and 1995, dismissed concerns saying the technology they planned was 'widely used and safe'.

Sizewell B station director, Jim Crawford, said: "This is a mature technology that is widely used around the world to safely store spent fuel.

"We will keep our local community updated on the build schedule for the project and work hard to limit any impact the project may have."

As part of the project a fund, to which EDF will pay £100,000 initially and then £20,000 a year, has been developed to improve access to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which surrounds the power station.

Building work is expected to take about eighteen months to construct, more information relating to the decision can be found on DECC's website by clicking here.

Luke Walsh