New “highly skilled jobs” have been promised in the UK as part of plans to clean-up a nuclear reactor in Japan.<\/p>\n
Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum are planning to build a facility at the Port of Workington, Cumbria, to support the decommissioning of the Monju\u202fPrototype Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR), in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.<\/p>\n
Cumberland Council, which owns the port, said the plant would support skilled\u202fjobs directly and across the supply chain.<\/p>\n
Leader Mark Fryer said: “This is fantastic news for the port as this new development, subject to the necessary approvals, will bring good quality jobs to Workington.”<\/p>\n
The construction phase is expected to be worth more than \u00a325m and employ about 20 people during its seven-year operation, those behind the plans said.<\/p>\n
The FBR was a sodium-cooled reactor<\/a> that had been designed to burn most of its spent fuel, however it encountered several problems during its lifespan.<\/p>\n The Workington plant would be treating the sodium coolant, turning it into sodium hydroxide, a commercially usable product.<\/p>\n West Cumbria is a well-known area for the nuclear sector, due to the presence of the Sellafield nuclear plant, which is being decommissioned.<\/p>\n The Labour-led council has started work to clear the land at Workington’s Oldside as part of its wider regeneration plans in the town.<\/p>\n The aim is for the area\u202fto become a hub for clean energy, manufacturing and logistics, the council said.<\/p>\n A Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to adding real social value to west Cumbia and this new venture will contribute to the regeneration on the Port of Workington and support the local economy.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Cumbria on X, external<\/a>, Facebook, external<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> and Instagram, external<\/a> and listen to Radio Cumbria on BBC Sounds.<\/a> <\/p>\n