BNFL

AWE Aldermaston now in US hands

Posted by jossc — 19 December 2008 at 4:32pm - Comments

A Trident D5 crashes on take off

Trident - costs and 'independence' are both spinning out of control

The management of the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, the 'bomb factory' which makes and maintains the UK's nuclear warheads, is now controlled by private US companies following the sale of the government's 33 per cent holding yesterday.

The news, a further nail in the coffin of the flimsy pretence that Britain has an independent nuclear deterent, only came to light in a three line press statement released by BNFL, the state-owned group which officially 'owned' the government's stake.

Last edited 1 January 1970 at 1:00am
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Shock and AWE as bomb factory goes up for sale

Posted by jossc — 16 January 2008 at 5:15pm - Comments

Razor wire fence surrounding AWE Aldermaston

Watch out world! Hot on the heels of the story that next-generation US designed Trident missiles may be too large to fit in the UK's submarine fleet comes news of another blow to the prestige of our very own nuclear deterrent - Aldermaston, aka 'Britain's Bomb Factory', is set to come under US control for the first time.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Greenpeace submission to EU Competition Commission

Last edited 1 September 2005 at 8:00am
Publication date: 
1 September, 2005

Summary

Greenpeace's submission to the European Union's Competition Commission raises key issues such as:

  • Can the NDA be classed as a non-government body if it is benefiting from the profits from commercial nuclear activities?
  • Which organisation - BNFL or the NDA - will make the final decision on whether an operation is classed as commercial and how will the monies be allocated?
Download the report:

Leak forces Sellafield to close

Posted by bex — 13 May 2005 at 8:00am - Comments

Greenpeace accuses government of failure to deliver as Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is born

Last edited 31 March 2005 at 9:00am
31 March, 2005

Greenpeace today accused the government of 'squandering an opportunity' to tackle the UK's radioactive decommissioning and clean up problems.

EC investigation into illegal state aid for UK's flagship nuclear clean up body

Last edited 30 November 2004 at 9:00am
30 November, 2004

The European Commission is expected to begin an investigation on December 1st into whether the UK will contravene European competition rules through establishing the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Greenpeace slams commission decision on state aid for British Energy

Last edited 22 September 2004 at 8:00am
22 September, 2004

Greenpeace today condemned the European Competition Commission for allowing billions of pounds of taxpayers money in state aid for the restructuring of the private nuclear company, British Energy (BE). The company applied for state aid in 2002, when it almost went bankrupt following a fall in electricity prices.

Closure of nuke reactor welcomed by Greenpeace

Last edited 29 June 2004 at 8:00am
29 June, 2004

Greenpeace today welcomed the announcement by British Nuclear Group (BNG) to finally close the Chapelcross magnox nuclear power reactors in Dumfriesshire. The company has said the cost of continuing to operate the plant cannot be justified on a commercial basis.

"Some time ago BNG acknowledged all its magnox stations are loss makers, but continued to squander taxpayer money in keeping them open. BNG has at least now openly conceded that the balance sheet doesn't add up for Chapelcross any more," said Jean McSorley, Greenpeace nuclear campaigner.

Leading QC casts major doubt over legality of new energy bill

Last edited 10 May 2004 at 8:00am
10 May, 2004

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at risk of delay - taxpayers could be left footing the bill for future bailouts of private nuclear operators

A leading QC has said today that the Government cannot pass its planned Energy Bill without EC approval because it may breach European rules on state aid. Greenpeace released the legal opinion as the proposed Energy Bill is due for its second reading in the House of Commons today (Monday 10th May).