By David Siddall

Last updated 11:23, Friday, 31 October 2008

A GIANT incinerator to burn nuclear and domestic waste could be built on greenfield land on the Gosforth side of Sellafield, a conference has heard.

A seminar on the prospects for the Energy Coast plan for west Cumbria was told a business plan is in the advanced stages of preparation for the incinerator and its railhead.

Barry Watkinson, delivery manager for external innovation for Sellafield Ltd said the Drigg low level waste repository had to move on from its current “antiquated” approach of burying waste in containers and vaults.

He added: “The maximum reduction in volumes of waste can be achieved by the thermal process.

“The best idea is a high temperature process.”

He said that Sellafield already had a combined heat and power plant that “needs replacing in five to six years’ time. This is the opportunity to look at a different approach and get energy from waste.”

He added that such a plant would need an extra 400,000 tonnes per year of waste over and above low level waste from Sellafield and Drigg.

Mr Watkinson told the conference, at Rheged, Penrith: “There would need to be a significant movement of waste to Cumbria. We have spoken to Cumbria County Council and they only generate 100,000 tonnes.”

Pointing out the possible site for the incinerator to the east of the current Fellside power plant he added: “The regulator is happy see the Sellafield licensed site extended east.”

As if to reassure any doubters, Mr Watkinson then screened a picture of a modern waste incinerator, “just 30 miles from Sellafield – on the Isle of Man”.

He also described more ambitious plans for a metal smelter to reuse steel destined for Drigg and use it to build 26,000 steel disposal cask.