SellafieldTHORP

The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant, commonly known as THORP, was a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant located at the Sellafield site in Cumbria, England. Its primary purpose was to extract residual plutonium and uranium from spent nuclear fuel, primarily from the UK's Magnox reactors and also from overseas utility clients. Construction of THORP began in the 1970s and it commenced operation in 1994, after a significant period of delays and public scrutiny. The plant was designed to reprocess a large volume of spent fuel, aiming to recover valuable materials for potential reuse and to reduce the volume of high-level radioactive waste.

THORP operated for a little over 19 years before its planned shutdown in November 2013. The decision to close the plant was influenced by a combination of factors, including changing economic conditions, evolving nuclear policies, and the ongoing costs associated with its operation and decommissioning. The decommissioning of THORP is a complex and lengthy process, involving the safe dismantling of the facility and the management of its radioactive contents. The site continues to be managed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.