1990s: Decommissioning and the environment
The UK Atomic Energy Authority concentrated on decommissioning and environmental restoration at many of its sites.
A new phase began as the UK Atomic Energy Authority concentrated on decommissioning and environmental restoration at many of its sites.
Culcheth, Lancashire, was the first UK nuclear site to be decommissioned, sold, and redeveloped for housing. Funding for fast reactor research and development ceased, resulting in the closure of the Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) in Caithness. At its height in 1997, 26% of the UK’s electricity was generated from nuclear power.
Dounreay radioactive release
Very small fragments of radioactive particles were accidentally released into the sea at Dounreay, Caithness, during early reprocessing operations. From 1997 to 2012 a project to retrieve the particles from the seabed was undertaken using divers and remotely operated vehicles. The risk of harm is very low, but monitoring of the local beaches and foreshore will continue into the future.
Sizewell B
After a 27-month public inquiry and a long construction period, Sizewell B in Suffolk, started in 1995 and became the first UK Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR). The planned duplicate build on other sites was cancelled as the Government was in an advanced stage of planning for privatising the industry.
Key events of the 1990s
1994
Sellafield’s Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) began operating.
1995
Sizewell B reactor began operating, the first Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) in the UK
