Nirex

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Nirex (Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive) is an organization founded by the British government in 1982 to deal with the disposal and specifically the final disposal of radioactive waste in Great Britain. In 1985 Nirex was re-constituted as "United Kingdom Nirex". In July 2003 the government announced a reform package, which among other things provides for the complete independence of Nirex from industry.

The shareholders of Nirex are the waste producers, i. H. British Energy , Magnox Electric, British Nuclear Fuels and AEA Technology . Funding comes from the four major waste producers and the Ministry of Defense (MOD). The main task of Nirex is the development of a deep geological repository for low and medium level radioactive waste.

In 1991, Nirex named Sellafield as a site candidate for such a repository . To explore the geology, an underground research laboratory was to be built in the rock. In March 1997, however, Nirex announced that the rock laboratory would not be built. The decision was preceded by the opinion expressed by the UK Environment Secretary that the project would not be pursued because of the inadequate planning and the effects on the scenic beauty of the Lake District . This meant that the repository itself could no longer be realized.

In October 1999, the government announced full public participation in the development of an overall radioactive waste disposal strategy that will result in a decision on preferred repository options in 2007.