Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004
14 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the latest information available to his Department on the progress made with the vitrification of the highly active liquid waste stored at the Sellafield complex; when it is estimated that the process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16528/04]
View answerThe vitrification plant at Sellafield, which came into operation in 1991 with two vitrification lines, encapsulates the liquid high level radioactive waste held in storage tanks at Sellafield into glass blocks. This is a more stable form for storage and reduces the risk of leakages and subsequent radioactive contamination of the environment.
Given the technical problems with the vitrification plant, throughput performance has been well below that expected. A third vitrification line, aimed at increasing vitrification capacity, is currently at the final stages of commissioning and is scheduled to commence operations by the end of June 2004.
In January 2001, BNFL was directed by the UK Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to reduce, by way of vitrification, the amount of liquid waste in the storage tanks to a small buffer stock volume by July 2015. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has been advised by the UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate that despite the ongoing problems with the existing vitrification lines, the July 2015 target date is achievable. The RPII has asked the NII to keep the RPII regularly updated on progress in relation to vitrification.
The RPII and the Government are concerned about the continuing storage of this highly active waste in liquid form in tanks at Sellafield and have been pressing, and will continue to press, the UK authorities to accelerate the rate of vitrification. This liquid waste arises from the reprocessing operations at Sellafield. As such, the need for vitrification will ultimately cease when the production of the liquid waste also ceases. The Government will, therefore, continue to use available avenues, both diplomatic and legal, to bring about an end to reprocessing operations at Sellafield.
