The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will spend £2.8 billion (EUR 3.2 billion) for the next year (2010/11) across the NDA's estate of 19 sites built in the post-war days of the UK's early nuclear programme.

The plan includes £863 million for site restoration, £723 million in general non-strategic site costs, £439 million for spent fuel management, £435 million for storage and disposal of nuclear waste, £225 million in corporate management improvement efforts (which it calls 'critical enablers') and £137 million in managing plutonium and uranium.

As part of its mission the NDA operates a number of commercial nuclear operations including electricity generation and reprocessing for domestic and foreign customers. This next year income of £1.15 billion is expected to be generated to help fund the decommissioning programme.

Tony Fountain NDA Chief Executive Officer said:

"Our work programme is moving at speed and we have achieved much in our first five years. But, it has never been more important for the NDA to focus on value for money as we seek to progress our clean-up mission over the next year and beyond."

"Funds will continue to be prioritised towards reducing risks at the most hazardous sites, with £1.5 billion of expenditure planned at Sellafield for the coming year. This will include the completion of the Evaporator D structure - a vital component of the reprocessing programme which reduces the Highly Active Liquid waste stored on site. This is the single biggest construction project anywhere in the UK nuclear industry, estimated to cost £400 million.

"Given the tight fiscal environment, it is essential that further efficiency savings are made with targets set for the Site Licence Companies to deliver a £30 million reduction in overhead and support costs alone in the coming 12 months."

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