German spent nuclear fuel set to be treated at Sellafield

A shipment of German spent nuclear fuel is set to begin reprocessing in Britain this week for the first time in three years.

The cargo, from two reactors in southern Germany, was transported to the Sellafield nuclear plant yesterday after a suspension in trade since 1998 because of safety issues.

Five flasks were transferred from Neckarwestheim and Biblis via rail to the French port of Dunkirk, then on to the purpose built European Shearwater ship to the BNFL dedicated port at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The German shipment follows on from the recent safe and successful re-start of transports from the Dodewaard reactor in The Netherlands.

Used nuclear fuel has been transported between Germany and Sellafield since 1972.

Germany is BNFL’s largest continental European customer with contracts worth more than £1bn.