Stage 1 decommissioning of the steam generating heavy water reactor - current achievements (Winfrith)

The Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) is located at Winfrith, Dorset, UK. It was a Nuclear Power Plant rated at 100MW(e) and operated successfully from 1968 to 1990. Decommissioning is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and is the responsibility of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, which has contracted AEA Technology to manage the project. Decommissioning is now well advanced in accordance with a cost-effective three stage strategy. This paper introduces SGHWR, outlines the economic basis of the decommissioning strategy, summarises the practical achievements and uses the containment strategy to provide an example of environmental considerations. (Author)