Nuclear firm 'to be privatised'

Oldbury Power Station is set to close by 2008

The state-owned company charged with decommissioning the UK's oldest nuclear power stations may be privatised, according to reports.

British Nuclear Group is currently a stand-alone subsidiary of fellow government organisation British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL).

BNFL said on Friday that it was reviewing its options for the unit.

It has previously announced plans to sell its US-based nuclear power station building unit Westinghouse.

State sector led

The UK's nuclear industry has a complicated structure.

In April 2005 the government set up the state-run Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to take ownership of the majority of civil nuclear sites in the UK, and control their current or future decommissioning.

These sites include the oldest Magnox reactors whose decommissioning is, or will be, carried out by British Nuclear Group, plus newer reactors and other nuclear facilities.

A completely separate private company - British Energy - owns and operates a further eight UK nuclear power stations.

British Nuclear Group is, or will be, carrying out the decommissing at stations including Bradwell in Essex, Calder Hall in Cumbria, Chapelcross in Dumfries, Dungeness A in Kent, Hinkley Point A in Somerset, Oldbury in Gloucestershire, Sizewell A in Suffolk, Wylfa on Anglesey, and Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd.