§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when BNFL plans to return high level nuclear waste from reprocessing foreign spent fuel back to customer countries; what facilities exist at Sellafield to store on an interim basis treated wastes; and whether she has received commitments from all foreign customers that they are prepared to accept the repatriation of their wastes. [119489]
§ Mr. TimmsThe arrangements for the return of high level nuclear wastes (HLW) are a commercial matter between BNFL and its overseas customers, subject to meeting the appropriate regulatory requirements. All new reprocessing contracts signed since 1976 have included return of waste provisions and in signing such contracts overseas customers have accepted that wastes can be returned.
The HLW arising from reprocessing is conditioned, by vitrification, into a solid form suitable for safe long term storage and transportation. Vitrified HLW arising from fuel reprocessed to date is currently stored in a purpose built, engineered storage facility at Sellafield, in advance of return in accordance with the contracts.