Nuclear reaction
Last updated 11:32, Friday, 04 April 2008
A £275m laboratory that could catapult Cumbria to the heart of the global nuclear industry was opened yesterday.
The centre, based at Sellafield and run by Nexia Solutions, will be expected to provide the skills to underpin atomic energy production in Britain and the world in the 21st century.
Known as the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) the scheme will provide training, research and development, experimentation and support for the UK’s expanded nuclear network.
At its heart is the British Technology Centre (BTC) at Sellafield, an imposing glass-fronted structure that houses the best facilities of its type anywhere in the world.
Incredibly, though, the Government has yet to confirm it will officially adopt the centre and the Treasury must still be convinced of the business case for it.
Final approval is thought to be just a formality, with an announcement expected soon.
But until the site gets the nod from ministers, it could still be the most expensive white elephant in history.
Business secretary John Hutton’s recent announcement that he would like to see an expanded UK nuclear sector, employing 100,000 people, would appear to suggest that full backing for the plan is imminent.
The Sellafield lab offers facilities for nuclear companies from around the world to develop new techniques in nuclear energy production and decommissioning.
Unique high active cells mean operatives can test and characterise highly radioactive material safely.
A plutonium and uranium centre is designed to offer facilities to make new breakthroughs in MOX fuel production.
Its work could also be spun out to other sectors like local councils investigating contaminated land.
Security will be so tight there will be armed guards on the door.
Scientists and university departments from France, Japan and the US have expressed an interest in using the set-up.
Technicians have already begun to create the centre’s first inventions.
A ‘radball’ developed at the site can be placed in contaminated space and can quantify and characterise the radiation present, without anyone having to enter.
Peter Bleasdale, managing director of Nexia Soltions, said: “Our job is to develop new technology to make sure the nuclear industry is safe and efficient in the future.
“We have the people and facilities here to do that.
“There has been a shocking under-investment in research and development skills in the nuclear industry. As recently as 1990, 7,000 people were employed in nuclear research and development, by 2004, only 1,000 remained. We are here to redress that.”
Nexia employs about 660 but will increase that steeply as the nuclear sector expands, Mr Bleasdale believes. He added: “We need to see how the nuclear industry takes off. When we become fully operational we will need staff from entry-level apprentices to world-class scientists.”
MLegg@cngroup.co.uk
