Firm fined over nuclear waste seepage
UNITED KINGDOM - A company that ran a nuclear power plant in Essex has been fined £250,000 after being convicted of allowing radioactive waste to seep into the ground over a 14-year period.
Magnox Electric Limited was convicted of breaking legislation governing the disposal of radioactive waste while operating the Bradwell power station near Maldon.
A judge also ordered the company to pay £150,000 costs following the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Magnox had denied allowing waste to seep out in breach of legislation but had admitted failing to maintain a sump at the power station.
Jurors were told that "radioactive water" had leaked from a decontamination unit at Bradwell between 1990 and 2004.
Judge Peter Fenn said Magnox had missed an opportunity to check a faulty sump at the unit and missed a warning signal.
But he accepted that the "environmental impact" had been "limited".
The court heard that Magnox had been fined £100,000 plus costs eight years ago after being convicted of failing to maintain equipment, breaching laws governing waste disposal and failing to inform industry watchdogs of an unlawful discharge at Bradwell and at the Hinkley Point power station near Bridgwater, Somerset.
Related News
7 steps to make electricity systems more resilient to climate risks
LONDON - Summer is just half done in the northern hemisphere and yet we are already seeing electricity systems around the world struggling to cope with the severe strain of heatwaves and low rainfall.
These challenges highlight the urgent need for strong and well-planned policies and investments to improve the security of our electricity systems, which supply power to homes, offices, factories, hospitals, schools and other fundamental parts of our economies and societies. This means making our electricity systems more resilient to the effects of global warming – and more efficient and flexible as they incorporate rising levels of solar and wind…
