Britain's 备 is ready to deal with

Victoria Gil

BBC News Science Reporter

The Celafield Nuclear Power Station of Chanbria currently stores 140 tons of 钚

The location photos of Clafield, Chanbri County, currently stored 140 tons of 钚 at the nuclear power plant. The prospects of this photo are green grass and shrubs, and farther, it is an industrial plant, with towers and silver -gray towers. The background is a huge circular structure. Pass. — The Celafield Nuclear Power Station of Chanbria currently stores 140 tons of 钚

The government stated that it will dispose of 140 tons of radioactive pupa currently stored in Safifield, Chanbria County.

Britain has the world's largest dangerous material inventory. These materials are the products of post -nuclear fuel treatment.

It has been preserved at the scene and piled up for decades in the form that can be recovered into new nuclear fuels.

However, the government has now decided not to reuse it, and expressed his hope to place these harmful substances in a "out of reach" and prepare to deal with it permanently in the depths of the ground.

后 is a product of lack of nuclear fuel. It can be seen from behind the lead lining glass, which makes the scene show yellow tone

BBC KEVIN Church is a product of lack of nuclear fuel, which can be seen from behind the lead lining glass. A nuclear fuel rod is extracted in the robotic arm. The thick lead lining protective glass makes the scene show yellow tone, and the nuclear fuel rod shines due to high radioactivity. — 后 is a product of lack of nuclear fuel. It can be seen from behind the lead lining glass, which makes the scene show yellow tone

When the lack of nuclear fuel is separated as part of its component, one of the products in it is 钚.

The previous government has retained these materials and the choice of recycling them into new nuclear fuels.

It is expensive and difficult to store this high radioactive material in the current form. It needs to be repaired frequently because radiation will damage the container stored. And it has armed police guards. All these spend more than 70 million pounds of taxpayers each year.

The government has decided that the safest and most economical solution is to "fixed" all its inventory.

This means that a facility will be constructed in Sellafield, which will be converted into a stable rock -like material, which can eventually dispose of it to the depths of the ground.

Energy Minister Michael Sonks in a statement It means that the goal is "converting this material into a form that can reduce the long -term security burden during the storage period and ensure that it is suitable for disposal."

Dr. Lewis Black, a nuclear material scientist at the University of Sheffield, said that 钚 will be "transformed into ceramic materials. Although it is still radioactive, it is solid and stable, so it is considered to be processed safely.

"The type of ceramics still needs to be decided (and select the correct material) is the theme of undergoing research."

Scientists show how to "bake" nuclear waste into solid materials such as ceramics

A scientist of Kevin Church (BBC) demonstrated how to make ceramics in the laboratory and — Scientists show how to "bake" nuclear waste into solid materials such as ceramics

Professor Claire Corkshir, a nuclear waste expert at the University of Bristol, said the government's decision is "positive step."

She told the Broadcasting Corporation of the news that it paved the way to eliminate the cost and danger of storing the storage in Sellafield. Year".

"These materials are based on the materials we found in nature -natural minerals. We know that these materials have contained uranium billions of years."

The government is currently in the early stages of the long technology and political process. The process aims to choose a suitable place to build deep geological facilities, which will eventually become the country's most dangerous radioactive waste destination. The facility can not be put into operation until 2050.

A chart (horizontal cross -sectional) shows the design method of deep geological disposal facilities of nuclear waste. The facility consists of a series of vaults and tunnels up to 1,000 m, located under the solid rock layer.