E001:07 10 January 2007

HSE grants consent for THORP re-start

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced today that it has granted consent for the re-start of the THORP facility at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant.

HSE’s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) is satisfied that the licensee, British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL), has done all the work necessary to ensure that THORP can be re-started and operated safely.

This work includes satisfactorily addressing the recommendations arising from NII’s investigation of a leak of radioactive liquid inside a shielded facility within THORP ; clearing all BNGSL's own recommendations arising from that incident; and completing any plant modifications and safety case improvements necessary to ensure safety.

The actual date for restart of reprocessing new fuel at THORP is a matter for BNGSL.

Notes to editors

• The Sellafield Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) reprocesses nuclear fuel from overseas and UK second-generation commercial reactors. The plant has been shut down since April 2005, when the leak was discovered. Following a detailed investigation of this incident by NII, HSE brought a prosecution against BNGSL.
• On 8 June 2006, BNGSL pleaded guilty before Whitehaven Magistrates to breaching three conditions attached to the Sellafield site licence granted under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended). On 16 October 2006, BNGSL was fined £500,000 plus costs of over £67,000 at Carlisle Crown Court.
• The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 provides for the licensing and inspection of sites used for operating nuclear reactors; manufacturing, storing and reprocessing fuel and related activities. No site may be used for operating a nuclear installation without a licence granted by HSE.
• The licence for each site contains a standard set of 36 conditions, dealing with a variety of safety requirements. Contravention of any condition constitutes an offence under the Act.

• Since the shutdown of THORP, HSE has undertaken a substantial amount of assessment and inspection work and is now satisfied that consent can be issued to allow the safe restart of the plant.

• HSE will publish a report on its investigation into the leak at THORP shortly.

Press enquiries

Mark Wheeler 020 7717 6905
Out of hours 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries

HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/