THE IMPACT OF THE NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY ON THE DECOMMISSIONING OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

摘要

The paper describes the work of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) which was set up by the United Kingdom in April 2005 to provide the first ever United Kingdom wide strategic focus on the clean-up of nuclear sites. The NDA establishment enables the biggest change in the structure of the United Kingdom nuclear industry in the last 35 years. This paper describes its mission, its strategy and its intended manner of decommissioning. The NDA mission is to deliver a world class programme of safe, cost-effective, accelerated and environmentally responsible decommissioning of the United Kingdom's civil nuclear legacy in an open and transparent manner and with due regard to the socio-economic impacts on our communities. This mission shapes the NDA values. Safety, security and regard for the environment are paramount to the way in which NDA operates. NDA expects that as it understands the clean-up challenge better, estimated costs will rise but NDA is confident that by introducing competition and through innovation it can, over time, drive these costs down. NDA acts openly and transparently and seeks to generate public confidence in an industry that has, historically, been seen as secretive and opaque. NDA aims to build a United Kingdom skills framework that supports decommissioning and cleanup over the long term, while helping to manage the inevitable socioeconomic change in the communities close to NDA sites as decommissioning gathers pace. The mission covers several decades but, if successful, will deliver huge returns. The NDA Strategy for delivery was approved by the Government of the United Kingdom in April 2006 and is aimed not only to obtain a better understanding of the task faced, but also to get the work done by a well led, competent, motivated and equipped workforce in ways that are smarter. The key messages are that it is important to identify and fund decommissioning costs and learn the lessons from past waste management. The skills dimension is crucial in the United Kingdom. Life cycle thinking is needed and predictable, long term waste management solutions are essential to success.