Sellafield to process first mox fuel order since NY attacks

British Nuclear Fuels' Sellafield plant has been given a boost with the news that it has won its first order to dispose of unwanted mox nuclear fuel from Japan.

The order represents Sellafield's first receipt of an order since the September 11 terrorist attacks and opens up the potentially lucrative Japanese market for the company. However, the move is sure to raise concerns from politicians on both sides of the Irish Sea over safety – environmental and military.

BNFL was reported to have gained the contract to process the mox fuel with the assistance of President Bush, who was in Japan to visit Prime Minister Koizumi last week. The US are key to the deal's completion as originators of the fuel they must agree to its transportation to comply with an anti-proliferation treaty. BNFL expect that assent within weeks.

Norman Askew, chief executive of BNFL, said: "The return of this fuel is a very important step in the process of completely rebuilding our relationship with Japan. I don't know the exact timing yet of when we would bring back the fuel but we would hope to do it this year."

Asked about the security aspects of the shipment, Mr Askew said the company had reviewed its procedures but declined to say if they had been toughened.

Political parties on both sides of the Irish border have denounced the continued use of Sellafield on both environmental grounds and the perceived threat from terrorism. BNFL will insist that the delivery platforms (either the 'Pacific Pintail' or 'Pacific Teal'), which are manned with armed Atomic Energy Authority police and mounted with three 30mm cannons, shall offer adequate protection.

In December, the Irish government delivered a rebuke to the British government after the opening of the Sellafield nuclear fuel recycling plant. The issue was pressed further in January when the Irish government applied to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to delay operations at the plant – which ultimately failed to buy more time for a more comprehensive response.

The contract with Japan will be considered a success on two points – firstly, hundreds of jobs will be secured for the near future and, more importantly, the Sellafield name will regain a little of its reputation following the embarrassment of the data falsification scandal in 1999.

(GMcG)