Safeguarding the past and shaping the future: Parliament marks key milestones in nuclear decommissioning
Parliamentarians, senior civil servants, and industry leaders gathered at an important event in Westminster in September to mark key anniversaries across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group. The reception, hosted by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, provided an opportunity both to celebrate the past and look ahead to an exciting future.
With the political focus firmly on achieving the twin goals of energy security and net zero, nuclear energy is higher up the political agenda than it has been for many decades. Yet, the commissioning of new nuclear is impossible without a safe and effective way of dealing with the challenging legacy of the nation’s nuclear past. Decommissioning is not only about managing the past, it is about enabling the future.
Dealing with that legacy is the job of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and its subsidiaries; Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services and Nuclear Transport Solutions. Together, they are responsible for developing and implementing some of the world’s most cutting-edge approaches to safely deal with the legacy of nuclear materials.
A recent Parliamentary reception celebrated the 20th anniversary of the NDA and the pivotal role it continues to play - from pioneering decommissioning programmes that restore former nuclear sites to investing in jobs, skills, and innovation that will shape the sector for decades to come.
The event was hosted by Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, who well understands well the NDA’s vital work that is helping manage the legacy of the past while also securing the UK’s energy future.
“I would like to congratulate all those who have contributed to the NDA’s achievements over the past 20 years,” Mr Speaker told guests. “I wish you every success as you continue to transform the landscape of nuclear decommissioning and build a sustainable future for the UK.”
That sustainable future extends into many aspects of national life. Beyond the technical achievements, the NDA’s work has contributed to safety, economic growth, and the UK’s international reputation for expertise.
David Peattie, CEO of NDA, was keen to emphasise that the organisation’s 20th anniversary was not just an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the past. He told the event that the landmark also provided an occasion to look to the future, particularly in an environment where energy security and net zero are more important than ever.
“We can be proud of our achievements across the NDA group in dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy, and we should celebrate how far we’ve come,” Peattie explained. “But we are more than decommissioning. We are part of the Government’s Plan for Change. And as the UK stands at a critical juncture in its energy transition, we - alongside our industrial partners - are helping to lead the UK into a new era of clean, secure energy.”
Michael Shanks MP is a Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He told the reception that there is a clear commitment from government to consolidate the position of nuclear as a key part of the UK energy mix.
“One of our guiding missions is for the UK
to become a clean energy superpower,” Shanks said. “There is no route to achieving that that doesn’t involve nuclear. And so, in the past few months, it has been of real importance to the government to recognise not just the future ambition for nuclear, but to put the money in to make that happen - to turn that ambition into reality.”
However, investment in nuclear decommissioning to help achieve the ambition Shanks describes is not simply a “cost”. It is an investment that is a catalyst for significant economic growth for the UK. Peattie told attendees that the NDA group, in partnership with the National Decommissioning Centre, will shortly publish a report highlighting the decommissioning sector’s wider economic impact. Each year, the NDA spends £2.3 billion with around 5,000 British companies, 38% of which are SMEs, across 83% of UK Parliamentary Constituencies retaining and rebuilding the UK’s industrial capability.
And there is now a clear consensus across the political parties that provides the nuclear decommissioning industry with the stability that it needs to continue to invest and flourish. Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Andrew Bowie MP, also praised the role of the sector and pledged his own party’s support for its work.
“You are a unique organisation, from the very tip of Scotland to the south coast of England, dealing with the past while investing in the future,” Bowie said. “And all governments of all colours should remember this vital role and have it forever at the front of their minds.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the event that he has seen at first hand the impact of investment at a local level in his Chorley constituency, adding that this positive impact was being replicated right across the country.
“Across the UK, the NDA’s investment in the supply chain contributes £3.17 billion per annum to the economy - delivering reassurance that nuclear energy can be managed safely, responsibly and for the benefit of all,” he told guests.
The theme of economic impact was echoed by other politicians at the event. Michael Shanks emphasised the role of the NDA in “breaking down barriers to opportunity through apprenticeships and training programmes,” while his opposite number highlighted the way that decommissioning work had benefitted communities that would otherwise have been left behind.
“The jobs and investment created by decommissioning have secured generations of work and centuries’ worth of economic activity in communities where, frankly, if it were not for the nuclear industry, there would be very little indeed,” Bowie told attendees.
Speakers also turned the spotlight on the critical role that the wider nuclear industry can play in achieving net zero and ensuring energy security for the nation, with Sir Lindsay Hoyle emphasising the importance of energy independence in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Michael Shanks agreed, explaining that the work of the NDA is vital if the nation is to meet its wider energy needs.
“Decommissioning is essential for our nuclear future and for our clean energy mission,” he said. “It’s also how we achieve those twin aims of reducing our carbon emissions, while delivering on energy security.”
What the reception made clear is that what began as a mission to manage the past is now helping to shape a cleaner, more secure, and more sustainable future - proof that even the most complex challenges can be turned into opportunities for progress.
“As we mark this year of anniversaries, we can be proud of our achievements across the NDA group in dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy,” David Peattie told the event. “And we should celebrate how far we’ve come. The UK remains a global figurehead in the nuclear industry, respected across the world.”
