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Uranium sent to Russia
Sellafield Ltd has exported a shipment of reprocessed uranium to Russia for processing to allow its manufacture into new fuel. The uranium is owned by European reprocessing customers in Germany and the Netherlands and is the eighth such shipment of material from Thorp.
Steve Cockayne, Head of Thorp said: “It’s good to see uranium from Thorp being exported for incorporation into new fuel, after all that’s what recycling is all about. This latest shipment means that over 950te of uranium has now been exported from Thorp since 2001.
“Thorp has been performing well and we’re delighted with the 165te throughput so far this year which is a reflection of the dedicated team we have. The plant is currently undergoing a planned engineering shutdown and will be back up and running in the New Year.”
After reprocessing, the separated uranium and plutonium belongs to the customers and it remains their decision as to how to deal with it following its removal from the Sellafield site. Manufacturing new fuel from this reprocessed uranium proves the technical viability of processing and will avoid mining 154te fresh uranium from the ground.
The material was loaded onto a Direct Rail Services (DRS) train at the Sellafield site before being transferred to Hull for onward shipping to Russia. The uranium is contained in cylindrical steel drums (each about the size of a small beer keg) securely loaded into ISO freight containers that comply with international transport requirements.
