The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a non-departmental public body created under the Energy Act 2004. Its core objective is to ensure the historic civil public sector nuclear legacy sites are decommissioned safely, securely, cost effectively and in ways that protect the environment. The NDA is also required to
- operate existing commercial activities and meet current contracts, using revenues to offset spend on decommissioning
- scrutinise the site decommissioning plans of British Energy.
Since October 2006 it has also been the UK body responsible for implementing geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste and delivering the UK Government’s integrated nuclear waste policy. The NDA assumed responsibility for the sites previously owned by British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
The UK’s civil nuclear legacy is a major public liability and represents the largest, most important environmental restoration programme in Europe. The NDA's mission is to deliver safe, sustainable and publicly acceptable solutions to this challenge, driving substantial change to improve delivery using competition for contracts to bring in world-class expertise to drive innovation, improve clean up and deliver value for money.
Sites and contracting
There are currently 19 sites owned by the NDA. These include 11 Magnox power stations, of which only Oldbury and Wylfa are still operational. Other sites include decommissioned research facilities, nuclear fuel plants (including Sellafield) and a low-level waste repository based near Drigg in Cumbria.
While the NDA owns these sites as well as the associated liabilities and assets, it delivers its mission of decommissioning and clean up through others – primarily Site Licence Companies (SLCs), which are licensed to operate the nuclear sites. Between them, the SLCs employ a workforce of around 18,000 and deliver agreed programmes of work against schedule and site funding limits. Through competition, contracts are awarded to winning bidders to contribute the benefits of their proven track record in the management of nuclear decommissioning to improve the performance and delivery of the SLCs. The winning bidders own the SLCs for the period of the contract and as Parent Body Organisations (PBOs), provide additional resource and management expertise.
The licence to operate a nuclear site is awarded by the Health and Safety Executive’s Nuclear Directorate.
The DECC and the Scottish Government aim to make tangible progress in decommissioning and clean-up, demonstrated by a reduction in UK civil nuclear liabilities and of the risks associated with high hazards, in line with published NDA business plans. Progress on these activities is reported in the NDA's annual report and accounts, last published in July 2011.
Funding and expenditure
The NDA’s sponsoring department is DECC and, for matters affecting Scotland, it has additional obligations to Scottish ministers. It operates under a management statement and financial memorandum, which sets out the relationship between DECC, Scottish Government and the NDA. The NDA’s budget comes from a combination of government funding and income from their commercial activities. The planned total expenditure of the NDA for 2010/11 is £2.8 billion.
Skills
The Energy Act 2004 also places a responsibility on the NDA to maintain and develop a skilled workforce able to take forward the decommissioning and clean-up programme, and to give support and encouragement to communities affected by decommissioning.
In 2007 ‘nucleargraduates’, the NDA National Graduate Scheme, was launched. There are currently around 400 apprentices working in SLCs and the nuclear supply chain, which is supported through NDA funding. The NDA was also involved in setting up the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.