Newsletter N° 3 (United Kingdom)
Plutonium at all UK nuclear sites but UKAEA sites
|
As of 31 March
of year |
1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
| In store as plutonium oxyde | 25 | 26,5 | 29,5 | 32 | 34 | 36,5 | 38,5 | 41,5 | 44 | 48,5 | 53,5 |
| Unextrated plutonium in irradiated fuel | >17,5 | 23,5 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 34 | 37 | 39,5 | 43 | 49,5 | 45 |
| In process of extraction / fuel fabrication or in other intermediate forms (eg.nitrate) | 2,5 | 2 | 1,5 | 1,5 | 1,5 | 1,5 | 1,5 | 1 | 1,5 | 2,5 | 2 |
|
UKAEA sites
(in Mt no detail) |
4,5 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 |
4,5 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 |
The inventory of separated plutonium in the UK, which has doubled over the last ten years, is the largest in the world. Most of the separated plutonium is of British origin, which highlights the inconsistency of the UK plutonium management scheme. As of 31 March 1997, the amount of non-British separated plutonium in the country was less than 5.5 tonnes, that is to say less than 10% of the total separated plutonium of almost 60 tonnes. BNFL is to continue producing very significant quantities of separated plutonium of UK origin, while there is no use for such material
in the UK.
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