State firm bid for radioactive material to be stored in rocks
High strength rocks such as granite have been identified as the best place to build a Geological Disposal Facility for nuclear and radioactive waste.
They have been found in five regions in the North. A GDF is a permanent place to store the “higher activity” radioactive waste the UK has been producing for the past 60 years. Radioactive Waste Management Ltd is responsible for developing the GDF. A spokesperson said 45 locations across England, Northern Ireland and Wales are being considered but “a community must be willing to host it” as the policy is consent-based. No decisions can be taken without the Northern Ireland Executive in place, so plans have been suspended “for the time being”.