Sellafield manager wins north west heat of speaking competition

The Nuclear Institute's event included two Sellafield speakers – Matt Harrison and Daniel Gilmore – who presented nuclear industry topics alongside representatives from companies and academic bodies such as Amec Foster Wheeler and Sheffield University.

Mr Harrison will represent the company, which has offices in Risley, in the national grand final in Manchester later this year after winning following a presentation on his topic named 'Clear Your Plates! Decommissioning Sellafield's Pile Fuel Cladding Silo'.

He also scooped a £300 prize.

"I'm grateful to the organisers for offering the opportunity to speak at this event and I was obviously delighted to win," he said.

"Speaking to a panel of judges and audience was a real development opportunity and it was also great to meet some of the other young nuclear workers, who spoke with great authority on their topics.

"To anyone thinking of entering one of the upcoming regional heats, I strongly advise you to do so."

Mr Harrison's presentation focused on the success of an ongoing decommissioning project – the deflector plate removal project – in one of western Europe's most hazardous facilities, the Sellafield Pile Fuel Cladding Silo.

Constructed in the early 1950s, the facility included a set of deflector plates in each silo compartment, so that the waste tipped in at the top would be distributed evenly on both sides.

Since bulk tipping ceased in 1965, the intermediate level waste residing within the compartments has sat largely dormant and the storage facility has been in a state of care and maintenance.

Matt added: "These deflector plates were the gatekeepers to the bulk intermediate level waste as it entered the compartments.

"But now they're in the way of our waste retrievals equipment so have to be removed so we can decommission this legacy facility."

Mr Gilmore picked up a 'highly commended' award for his presentation on Government investment in new nuclear power stations.