|
|
<p>The Government's position on plutonium management, as set out in our December 2011 consultation response, is that converting the plutonium into MOX is the most credible and technologically mature option for reuse, but that we remain open to any alternative proposals that offer better value to the taxpayer.</p><p>As part of the work to consider alternative proposals, the NDA has been working closely with both GE Hitachi on their Prism reactor and with Candu on their EC6 reactors. The NDA has prepared advice for DECC on these alternatives as well as on the reuse as MOX option.</p><p>The NDA's advice will help us to understand the technical and commercial risks associated with all the options and form part of our considerations about how we should progress this work. In due course the NDA will publish its planned public version of that advice, as announced on 1 August. It will provide information about the work that has been done and present views about the various options proposed for plutonium management. It is not intended to be a final decision on the technology we will use to manage our plutonium.</p><p>As noted in our 2011 consultation response, there will be many steps to go through before we reach the point of taking a final decision. This is expected to include a competitive tendering and procurement process to help secure best value to the taxpayer; only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, that it is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.</p> |