Magnox / Costain

Project: Bradwell Decommissioning
Location: United Kingdom
Products: Bulk Instrument Package (175 items)

Bradwell, located in the South East of England, one and a half miles from the Essex coastline, is a twin Magnox reactor, now undergoing decommissioning following shutdown in March 2002 after 40 years of operation. The station generated nearly 60 TWh of electricity during its operational life and on a typical day could supply enough electricity to meet the needs of three towns the size of Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend put together.

The removal of fuel, which accounted for 99 per cent of the radioactive hazard on site, was completed in 2006. Since then the focus has been on further hazard reduction and preparation of the site for its care and maintenance phase.

Accelerated decommissioning

Bradwell is one of two Magnox sites, alongside Trawsfynydd, which is following an accelerated decommissioning programme. It is due to become the first Magnox site to reach its care and maintenance phase in 2015. The approach, which will see care and maintenance achieved 12 years earlier than planned, is designed to gather experience that will help to safely reduce the cost of decommissioning the other Magnox sites – a process known as lead and learn.

Information courtesy of www.magnoxsites.co.uk