Radioactive Waste Immobilisation Network

2. Presentation Outline Supporting Information: Draft Strategy Status Recap - NDA Main Drivers NDA�s Waste & Nuclear Materials Strategy Team W&NM Key Objectives and Role High Level Waste (HLW) Management Spent Fuel Management Update Nuclear Materials Management Plutonium Disposition. Uranium Disposition Smart Application of Science and Technology

3. NDA Draft Strategy Status 3 month consultation into NDA�s draft strategy closed on 15th November, 2005. 270 responses received from communities, special interest groups and industry, e.g. British Nuclear Group Greenpeace ISL, Sheffield Nexia Solutions Nirex Norwegian Government UKAEA NDA Board approved the revised strategy, taking into account consultation comments, on 15th December 2005, and submitted it to UK Government. UK Government has until end of March 2006 to approve the �Final� Strategy � no further comment on final strategy can be given by NDA until it is approved by UK Government

4. Recap of NDA�s Main Drivers We must have safe and environmentally responsible operation of our sites and projects We act in an open and transparent manner, with strong stakeholder engagement We must provide value for money for the taxpayer, continuously driving down the national liability NDA will achieve a dynamic and competitive decommissioning and cleanup business in UK

5. NDA�s Waste and Nuclear Materials Strategy Team Within Richard Waite�s Engineering Directorate. The Team acts as the NDA�s internal sponsor for directly commissioned R&D activities in W&NM Phil Davies is the Team Leader. Joanne Fisher is the Strategy Manager low activity wastes, contaminated land and site end points. James McKinney is the Strategy Manager covering ILW (including reactor decommissioning waste) and Inter-site transfers Paul Gilchrist is the Strategy Manager for HLW, Fuels, Nuclear Materials, Orphans and Miscellaneous Wastes

6. W&NM Role & Key Objectives Internal and External interface and input as required, e.g. DTI CoRWM. NDA�s Skills and Technology Unit (Ian Hudson), particularly for waste technologies R&D packages and the Nirex contract (Neil Smart). NDA�s Strategy Directorate and Programmes Directorate (contract / site-facing) Alignment of R&D to NDA business drivers. Internal �one stop shop� expert resource on waste and nuclear materials topics. Identifying and promoting good practice. Encouraging innovation for improved cleanup performance. Pursuing opportunities to drive down the UK liability: we want to achieve big savings

7. HLW Management NDA supports the current approach to reduce the volume of liquid HLW and to return foreign HLW back to the country of origin. Significant quantities (currently around 1,345 cubic metres) of liquid HLW have built up over the years. There are now three vitrification lines in operation to encapsulate the wastes in glass as part of the process to achieve passive safety The three vitrification lines will need to operate effectively and continuously (subject to periodic shutdowns for maintenance purposes) if the volume reduction target date of July 2015 is to be met. Any unexpected or unplanned shutdowns of the vitrification lines would put the achievement of the volume reduction target at risk. Moreover, further vitrification lines could not be delivered in time. A programme agreed between BNFL and NII was put in place in 2000, to reduce the volume of liquid waste in tank storage to the minimum level required to maintain the integrity of the process by July 2015. Good progress is being made with this programme.

8. HLW Management Programme

9. Spent Fuels - Context NDA is responsible for the management of spent nuclear fuel on its sites Significant volume of fuel from historic operations Fuel from Magnox power stations Fuel from British Energy�s AGR power stations Inherited contractual obligations Currently, spent fuel from Magnox reactors is reprocessed at Sellafield, and the Magnox reprocessing plant is due to cease operations in 2012. Spent AGR fuel is currently stored and reprocessed at the THORP plant at Sellafield.

10. Spent Fuels � NDA drivers Reduce hazard potential through ensuring the safe management of spent fuel and ultimately to produce passively safe packages that will be suitable for final disposal. Fulfil contractual obligations for the management of spent fuel on behalf of UK and overseas customers Ensure there is sufficient available capacity to accept all currently projected consignments of Magnox and AGR spent fuel from UK reactors Drive innovation and skills development to ensure the delivery of obligations in a timely and cost-effective manner.

11. Nuclear Materials - Context The NDA will continue to ensure that nuclear materials are stored safely and securely The NDA is working with Government to ensure the most effective management of nuclear materials The NDA needs to understand the potential size of the asset or liability value of civil nuclear materials owned by the NDA Uranium and Plutonium are classified as zero value assets at present. The management of the materials in storage is within NDA scope, but, at present, future disposition is not. Current quantities are around 75 teHM plutonium and 55,000 teHM uranium Does not include foreign, MoD or BE material Plutonium and Uranium Disposition For each type of material, compare reuse and immobilisation (disposal) lifecycle scenarios

12. Nuclear Materials: Plutonium Disposition Options

13. Nuclear Materials - Plutonium

14. Preliminary Assessments: Uranium Options

15. Nuclear Materials - Uranium

16. Nuclear Materials� next steps Continue to work up cost models for immobilisation or reuse. Continue focussed R&D spend. DTI being kept informed. Progress updates to National Stakeholder Group.

17. Smart Application of Science and Technology Innovation in ALL activities, including Research, Development and Technology , Operational approaches, Administration Working with suppliers Constructive challenge to previous �established� knowledge �Myth Busting� where appropriate. New technologies and new applications of existing technologies Close tracking of UK & International best practice Understanding the requirements for adoption in the UK Communicating across UK sites and projects (embedding into NDA strategies and LTPs) Forward vision Planning now to prepare us for future challenges (eg graphite, contaminated land)