Pressurised Water Reactors (Spent Fuel)

HC Deb 23 March 1984 vol 56 cc608-9W

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there is any commitment by the Central Electricity Generating Board not to reprocess spent fuel from pressurised water reactors.

Mr. Giles Shaw

As explained in its proof of evidence—CEGB P6 — to the Sizewell inquiry, the board is assuming that irradiated PWR fuel would at some stage require reprocessing. The design of PWR proposed for Sizewell B has a cooling pond capable of storing at least 18 years of irradiated fuel. This arrangement provides flexibility in the timing of reprocessing, and permits various options and time scales to be considered. No decision has to be taken at present by the board.