Sellafield plant to shut in 2018

The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) at Sellafield in Cumbria, which employs up to 800 workers, was commissioned in the early 1990s.

The Prospect union said the news had come as a “great disappointment”, adding that only a fraction of the existing workforce would remain during the clean-out prior to decommissioning.

National officer Mike Graham said: “Today’s announcement comes as a great disappointment to our members at Thorp who believe firmly that the plant has a future and have been actively campaigning for new reprocessing contracts.

“The announcement, though not surprising, is sudden and it is fair to say that the way this was communicated to the workforce could have been better.

“The closure will see a reduction in the numbers employed on the plant once operations cease, with only a fraction of the existing staff remaining during the clean-out phase prior to decommissioning.”

Prospect said it will press the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on the potential redeployment of staff affected.

The NDA said the closure decision was confirmed after it completed a strategic review of options for management of oxide fuels.

“Any remaining fuel would go into storage pending a decision to dispose of it.