The UK’s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has granted Sizewell A Power Station formal consent to decommission once it ceases electrical generation at the end of this 2006.
The decision follows extensive consultation. The next stage for the site, once generation has ended, will be to defuel the reactors and deliver the fuel elements to Sellafield. Defuelling is expected to be complete in 2009 and will be undertaken alongside initial decommissioning work. Current plans indicate that the initial decommissioning work, which would include demolition of the turbine hall and ancillary buildings, will be completed by 2017. Final site clearance will be completed by 2110.
British Nuclear Group is currently working with Sizewell A’s owners, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, to develop a business case to accelerate the site clearance process in line with the NDA’s declared strategy
