Following the licensing of the MOX (mixed Pu/U oxide) plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, UK, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd has started to transfer plutonium-bearing material into the facility. This represents the first stage of the commissioning of the new fuel fabricatrion plant which is due to begin full commercial activity some time during 2002. The news was greeted with protests in Ireland where the Irish government and environmental activists have been attempting to block startup of the plant. Both fear that use of the MOX facility will lead to increased radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea.
