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Secret UK Uranium Components Plant Closed Over Safety Fears

Posted by samzenpus on from the duct-tape-and-wire dept.

Lasrick writes "The Guardian has an exclusive story regarding a secret uranium-enriching plant in the UK that was closed due to safety fears. From the article: 'A top-secret plant at Aldermaston that makes enriched uranium components for Britain's nuclear warheads and fuel for the Royal Navy's submarines has been shut down because corrosion has been discovered in its 'structural steelwork', the Guardian can reveal. The closure has been endorsed by safety regulators who feared the building did not conform to the appropriate standards. The nuclear safety watchdog demands that such critical buildings are capable of withstanding 'extreme weather and seismic events,' and the plant at Aldermaston failed this test. It has set a deadline of the end of the year for the problems to be fixed.'"

6 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Somebody in the Guardian comments pointed out that it's even listed in the (slightly comical) Wiki entry for the area:

    5 Economy

            5.1 Agriculture
            5.2 Pubs and brewing
            5.3 Cricket bats
            5.4 Pottery
            5.5 Atomic Weapons Establishment
            5.6 Other businesses

  2. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by mekkab · · Score: 3, Funny

    NOW where will I get my uranium-enriched cricket bats?!

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  3. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A well signposted nuclear facility in the UK? It wouldn't be the first time: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00679/nuclear_679838n.jpg

  4. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by Kupfernigk · · Score: 3, Funny

    This reminds me of someone I know who is a former officer on nuclear submarines and now works in IT. His CV on Linkedin includes "strategic nuclear deterrence". I've speculated that he's hoping for a job offer from Iran.

    --
    From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
  5. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by robthebloke · · Score: 4, Funny

    No it's probably secret as in:
    Government: "MI6 does not exist"
    Everyone else: "Yes it does, it's in that big building with MI6 written on it"
    Government: "No, MI6 does not exist".
    Everyone else: "But you just responded to this question using the e-mail address: queries@MI6.gov.uk"
    Government: "ok, so MI6 does exist"
    Everyone else: "We already know"

  6. Re:"Secret" as in "well signposted"? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 3, Funny

    Everybody else: plus, you left a laptop labelled "Property of MI6. Do not loose!" on the 7:15 to Waterloo. Again.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.