Nuclear spills cost firms £2million

5.01.24pm GMT Thu 10th Aug 2006

Following the news today that two nuclear power plants have been fined £2m for a radioactive leak, David Howarth, Liberal Democrat Energy spokesperson, criticised the secrecy endemic in the nuclear power industry.

The spillage of radioactive material was discovered at Sellafield in April 2005. It is thought that the leak may have gone unnoticed for 8 months. Dounreay in Caithness was also penalised by the Nuclear Decommission Authority after 266 litres of hazardous fuel split onto a lab floor in September 2005.

Mr. Howarth commented:

"Incidents like these are worryingly common in the nuclear power industry and can, in the case of the Dounreay spillage, result in the plant being inactive for long periods of time. This is hardly a secure energy supply.

"The fact that the Sellafield spill remained unnoticed and unreported for 8 months demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the nuclear industry - its lack of openness."