Springfields: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:59, 2 May 2017

Revision as of 12:59, 2 May 2017

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'''Springfields''' is a [[nuclear fuel|nuclear fuel production installation]] in [[Salwick]], near [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] in [[Lancashire]], [[England]] ({{gbmapping|SD468315}}). The site is currently operated by Springfields Fuels Limited, under the management of [[Westinghouse Electric Company|Westinghouse Electric UK Limited]], on a 150-year lease from the [[Nuclear Decommissioning Authority]].<ref name=independent-20170330>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/westinghouse-bankruptcy-is-the-future-of-uk-nuclear-power-in-uk-doubt-toshiba-a7658001.html |title=Westinghouse bankruptcy: Is the future of nuclear power in the UK in doubt? |first=Ben |last=Chapman |newspaper=The Independent |date=30 March 2017 |accessdate=31 March 2017}}</ref> Since its conversion from a [[munitions]] factory in 1946, it has previously been operated and managed by a number of different organisations including the [[United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority]] and [[British Nuclear Fuels]].<ref name=westinghouse>{{cite web|title=Westinghouse|url=http://www.nuclearsites.co.uk/page.php?pageID=85|work=Westinghouse website on nuclear sites|accessdate=16 December 2011}}</ref> Fuel products are produced for the [[Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Kingdom#Power_stations|UK’s nuclear power stations]] and for international customers.

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==Activities on the site==

The site has been making [[nuclear fuel]]s since the mid-1940s. The site is notable for being the first nuclear plant in the world to produce fuel for a commercial power station ([[Sellafield#Calder_Hall_nuclear_power_station|Calder Hall]]).<ref name="westinghouse"/>

The four main activities carried out on the site are:<ref name=westinghousenuclear-2014>{{cite web |url=http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/Portals/2/Documents/Brochure%20Nuclear_Leaflet_04.pdf |title=Nuclear Fuel Manufacture at Springfields |publisher=Wesinghouse |year=2014 |format=PDF brochure |accessdate=2 April 2017}}</ref>

*Production of oxide fuels for [[Advanced gas-cooled reactor|advanced gas-cooled]] and [[light water reactor]]s, as well as intermediate fuel products ([[uranium dioxide]] powders, granules, and pellets)

*Production of [[uranium hexafluoride]], or "hex"

*Processing of [[Nuclear fuel cycle|fuel-cycle]] residues

*[[Nuclear decommissioning|Decommissioning]] and demolition of redundant plants and buildings<ref name="westinghouse"/>

==Future of the plant==