The quantity of fissile material in a facility was more than 25% over the criticality limit.
Nuclear materials latest news
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23 nuclear flights between UK and US in five years
Military nuclear materials are flown across the South of England and South Wales around four times a year on average, according to new information revealed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in answer to a Parliamentary Question. The materials, in transit between the USA and the UK, are essential to the UK's nuclear weapons and […]
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Ministry of Defence uses trucks which should have been scrapped five years ago to transport nuclear materials
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UK fissile material holdings reported
The Office for Nuclear Regulation has published figures for the UK's holdings of fissile materials for the year 2013, showing an increase in civil stocks of plutonium and high enriched uranium.
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UK performs poorly on nuclear materials in international rating
The UK scores poorly among nuclear-capable states for the security of its nuclear infrastructure and the quantities of nuclear materials it holds, according to a study by the influential Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
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Safety watchdog: Atomic Weapons Establishment ‘exposed people to risk’
An investigation by the government's nuclear safety watchdog has found “clear evidence” that the structure of a nuclear processing facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has degraded to the extent that “normal operations can no longer be justified”.
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NIS Update: August 2012
This month's NIS Update includes information on plans to hand over the RNAD Coulport Trident nuclear weapons store to private sector contractors; delays in hearing the court case resulting from the August 2010 fire at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and arrangements for power range testing the nuclear reactor on board the Royal Navy's new Astute class submarine, HMS Ambush.
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NIS Update: June 2012
TWO-YEAR BLUEPRINT PUBLISHED FOR REMOVING TRIDENT FROM SCOTLAND
Scottish ministers have welcomed a practical guide, drawn up by the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND), on how to dismantle the Trident nuclear weapons system and remove it from Scotland within two years of independence.
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NIS Update: November – December 2011
TRIDENT VALUE FOR MONEY REVIEW PUBLISHED IN RESPONSE TO FOI REQUEST
A redacted copy of Trident Value For Money Review documents has recently been released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request made by Greenpeace UK. The review took place in 2010 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review process but has never been officially published by the government. -
NIS warns of risks of plutonium nuclear fuel fabrication
Photo: The plutonium storage vault at Sellafield.
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NIS Update: February 2011
AWE BURGHFIELD PLANNING APPLICATION RESUBMITTED
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has submitted a planning application to West Berkshire Council to extend the time limit for construction of a new conventional manufacturing rationalisation (CMR) facility at AWE Burghfield.
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NIS Update: August – September 2010