The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) announced that it has returned Sellafield Ltd to routine regulatory attention for physical security. “ONR has determined that physical security measures no longer require enhanced regulatory oversight and Sellafield Ltd can return to a routine attention level.”
In 2023, reporting by The Guardian alleged multiple safety concerns at Sellafield including a leak from a silo of radioactive waste, a lack of functioning alarms and a lack of qualified staff trained in nuclear safety.
Over the last two years, ONR has carried out a regular programme of inspections and interventions at Sellafield, assessing evidence provided by the licensee’s security and resilience team. This identified a period of sustained improved performance in the area of physical security, and ONR is satisfied that the required security outcomes are now being achieved.
Physical security at Sellafield is delivered using a wide range of assets and capabilities and through an approach that includes defence in depth and armed response. A number of physical security assets and capabilities have been improved as part of the return to routine regulatory attention.
ONR also noted the close recent working relationship between ONR inspectors and Sellafield Ltd staff “and the transparent acknowledgement of the changes required which has been pivotal in the strides made forward during the last 12 months”.
Gary Wilkinson, head of security and resilience at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Following an action plan over many months, we have successfully met all the requirements set by ONR. This is a significant achievement and has been a big team effort from across the company.”
Paul Dicks, ONR’s Director of Regulation for Sellafield, Decommissioning Fuel and Waste, said: “We have worked closely with Sellafield Ltd through our enabling approach to ensure that the required improvements are delivered. “I’m satisfied that Sellafield Ltd has demonstrated significant and sustained security improvements which has allowed us to return them to routine regulatory attention.”
ONR said it will monitor progress on the site during 2025 to gain assurance that further improvements remain on schedule. ONR has more than 50 inspectors regulating Sellafield, which means it can hold the licensee to account, track progress and ensure that agreed milestones are met.
Sellafield Ltd is the largest and most complex nuclear facility in the UK and ONR said ensuring that security arrangements are appropriate is a priority. “Reducing the hazard and risk on the Sellafield site safely and securely is both a major national and ONR priority.”
Sellafield said that “a number of physical security assets and capabilities” had been improved “as part of the return to routine regulatory attention”.
Regulatory attention levels are set by ONR and are assigned based its assessment of overall performance, considering a broad range of safety and security considerations and operational issues that a site is addressing. It also reflects an overall judgement across ONR’s nuclear safety, nuclear site health and safety, civil nuclear security and transport purposes.
This specific regulatory attention level decision applies only to physical security. ONR noted: “Our physical security specialist inspectors conduct regular inspections to ensure licensed sites have effective arrangements in place against theft and sabotage of nuclear materials.
However, Sellafield Ltd currently remains in significantly enhanced attention for cyber security and collaborative work is ongoing to achieve the required improvements in this area. Sellafield was fined £332,500 ($421,065) by the ONR in October 2024 for cyber security failings. ONR said at the time: “Significant shortfalls were present for a considerable length of time” and the offences took place between 2019 and 2023, including breaches of the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003.
Meanwhile, Sellafield has said its £2.8bn budget for the next financial year will not be enough for the planned decommissioning work. The funding for the 2025-26 financial year is reportedly similar to 2024-25, but it does not take into account inflation and rise in energy prices. This comes after the National Audit Office, said in October 2024 that the site was not “value for money” and had spent £1.9bn more than it earned in 2023-2024.
Sellafield said the forecast budget is likely to impact its supply chain. “Critical work will continue but some projects will need to be slowed down, paused, or stopped,” a spokesman said.
This has sparked concern among the more than 10,000 people that work at Sellafield. The Sellafield spokesman said the company was working with employees, trade unions and stakeholders to “manage any impact”. The GMB union has called on Sellafield Ltd “to be fully transparent about any cost-saving measures and to engage with us to ensure the workforce is protected”.
