NDA Marks 20 Years Enhancing National Safety

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The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is marking its 20th anniversary, a milestone achievement in the UK’s nuclear history. Established by the UK Government under the Energy Act 2004, the NDA’s primary mission is to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites, ensuring they are remediated for their next use.

Since its inception in 2005, the NDA has overseen the cleanup of 17 sites, achieving significant milestones along the way. Recent accomplishments include demolishing the turbine hall at Sizewell A and completing the first rail deliveries for final capping at the low-level waste repository, providing a protective layer over legacy disposal trenches.

Notable achievements that are being celebrated include simultaneous waste retrievals from Sellafield’s storage ponds and silos, safe defueling of Magnox reactors, removal of radioactive coolant from the Dounreay Fast Reactor, reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel generating £9 billion in revenue, consolidation of plutonium safely stored at Sellafield, and the packaging and storage of significant volumes of intermediate-level waste.

The NDA has also made strides in reusing and recycling waste, diverting 98% of waste from disposal at the low-level waste repository and saving nearly £50 million in the past year alone. Significant progress has been made in demolishing or reusing buildings, releasing land for reuse, and delivering a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for the long-term management of hazardous radioactive waste.

CEO of the NDA Group, David Peattie, expressed pride in the organization’s achievements over the past 20 years, highlighting the importance of their environmental mission and commitment to leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

The NDA’s work has led to significant skyline changes, including the demolition of cooling towers and reactors, along with successful nuclear material transportation by sea and rail with a 100% safety record. Beyond decommissioning, the NDA group contributes to national safety and security, supports energy security goals, invests in research and technology, shares best practices internationally, and drives economic growth through job creation and supply chain investments.

Since 2005, the NDA group has invested £277 million in socio-economic funding to support projects that bring about permanent and sustainable change in site communities, leveraging additional investment for maximum impact.

As we reflect on the past 20 years, let us celebrate the NDA’s accomplishments and look forward to the continued efforts in making the UK safer and more sustainable for generations to come.

Image & Video credit: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority