Windscale Reactor (Decommissioning Costs)

HC Deb 18 November 1982 vol 32 cc247-8W

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the approximate cost of decommissioning the Windscale advanced gas-cooled reactor.

Mr. John Moore

The decommissioning of the Windscale advanced gas-colled reactor is being, undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority as a development project to demonstrate the effectiveness of different dismantling methods and waste packaging and disposal techniques. It is therefore not possible to distinguish the costs specific to the decommissioning of the WAGR from associated development work. The project will be subject to regular review of progress and costs, but it is at present estimated that costs could be in the region of £3 million per annum over about 10 years.