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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sellafield towers are demolished | Sellafield towers are demolished |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The four cooling towers at Calder Hall in Cumbria, the world's first full-scale nuclear power station, have been demolished. | The four cooling towers at Calder Hall in Cumbria, the world's first full-scale nuclear power station, have been demolished. |
| Hundreds of residents gathered to watch as the 88 metre-high towers on the Sellafield site were exploded in pairs at 0900 BST and 0904 BST. | Hundreds of residents gathered to watch as the 88 metre-high towers on the Sellafield site were exploded in pairs at 0900 BST and 0904 BST. |
| A massive cloud of dust blew over the Irish Sea as they came down. | A massive cloud of dust blew over the Irish Sea as they came down. |
| The towers, which had stood for 50 years, were regarded as a major part of Britain's industrial heritage. | The towers, which had stood for 50 years, were regarded as a major part of Britain's industrial heritage. |
| Their dismantling, part of Calder Hall's decommissioning, comes over four years after electricity generation ceased. | Their dismantling, part of Calder Hall's decommissioning, comes over four years after electricity generation ceased. |
| It is the first part of a plan to decommission the complex, comprising 62 buildings which was opened by the Queen on 17 October, 1956. | It is the first part of a plan to decommission the complex, comprising 62 buildings which was opened by the Queen on 17 October, 1956. |
| The Calder Hall site produced electricity for 47 years | |
| Andy Scargill, the site's decommissioning superintendent, said: "It is a historic day, but it is a day that is bringing together a lot of hard work, a lot of effort and a lot of technical challenges. | |
| "It looks like two minutes' worth of work today but it has taken three years to get to this point. | |
| "We have had to prove the method and safety of the site. | |
| "There were 150 stakeholders to discuss this with including local farmers, the regulators and the local community." | |
| Plans to create a £128m hi-tech museum were scrapped earlier this week. | Plans to create a £128m hi-tech museum were scrapped earlier this week. |
| Closed system | Closed system |
| The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the proposal had been ruled out because of the costs involved, although a spokesman said creating it on the site "was possible". | |
| Permission to decommission Calder Hall was obtained in June 2005, after several years of criticism about the safety of its operation, and a public consultation. | Permission to decommission Calder Hall was obtained in June 2005, after several years of criticism about the safety of its operation, and a public consultation. |
| During their operation, the four towers supplied cooled water as it returned to the turbine hall within a closed energy system, a key part of the production of power. | During their operation, the four towers supplied cooled water as it returned to the turbine hall within a closed energy system, a key part of the production of power. |
| Their demolition is part of "the largest asbestos removal project in Europe", said a Sellafield Ltd spokesman. | Their demolition is part of "the largest asbestos removal project in Europe", said a Sellafield Ltd spokesman. |
| Weapons-grade plutonium | Weapons-grade plutonium |
| He said a risk assessment has been carried out and it is believed all physical effects of the blast will be confined to within 200m (656ft) of the demolition site. | He said a risk assessment has been carried out and it is believed all physical effects of the blast will be confined to within 200m (656ft) of the demolition site. |
| It will take 12 weeks to remove the rubble after the explosions have taken place, with steel from the site being recycled where possible. | It will take 12 weeks to remove the rubble after the explosions have taken place, with steel from the site being recycled where possible. |
| Early in its existence, Calder Hall was primarily used to produce weapons-grade plutonium, with electricity generation as its secondary purpose. | Early in its existence, Calder Hall was primarily used to produce weapons-grade plutonium, with electricity generation as its secondary purpose. |
| It was not until April 1995 the UK Government confirmed all production of plutonium for weapons purposes had stopped. | It was not until April 1995 the UK Government confirmed all production of plutonium for weapons purposes had stopped. |