Sellafield destroys chemicals in controlled explosion
22 October 2017
Bomb disposal experts were called to the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant after a routine audit of chemicals stored in a laboratory revealed canisters of potentially dangerous solvents which had been on the site since 1992. An area of the site was cordoned off and the canisters disposed of by controlled explosion.
Sellafield said in a statement: "These chemicals are used extensively in many industries and are well understood. Because this is happening on the Sellafield site we exercise extreme caution and leave nothing to chance."
It said a team from the army's Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team disposed of the chemicals by digging a trench, burying them using sandbags and detonating them in a controlled manner.
Sellafield reprocesses and stores nearly all of Britain's nuclear waste. Last year, BBC's Panorama exposed safety concerns at the plant after a tip-off from a whistleblower, including allegations of inadequate staffing levels and poor maintenance.
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