The pipe failure at the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) part of the Sellafield complex in the UK’s Cumbria that allowed a mixture of uranium and plutonium dissolved in nitric acid to leak into a stainless steel containment structure has been classified as category III on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).
The leak, defined as a ‘serious incident’ on INES was discovered during monitoring checks in the plant’s Feed Clarification Cell, which holds dissolver solution while tests are carried out, a camera subsequently picked up the pipework failure. The Cell is a totally secure environment specifically designed to withstand such failures and there were no leaks to the environment.
Nuclear opposition groups have attempted to capitalise on the development by arguing that a nuclear build programme plan widely speculated as part of the newly re-elected government’s agenda should be abandoned. Furthermore, the very future of reprocessing in the UK has now been called into question with some speculating that it would make economic sense to keep the facility closed rather than restart it and continue running it through to its due closure date in 2012.
According to Sir Anthony Cleaver, chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which owns the Sellafield site, has said “The NDA has not formed a position on the future of Thorp. The arguments surrounding Thorp have been well aired over recent years but we will need a comprehensive understanding of last month’s incident and time to consider all the implications before being able to take a formal view on its future. Any ultimate decision on Thorp will be for the government.”