THE final flask of spent fuel from Anglesey's nuclear power site Wylfa has been dispatched.

Magnox has sent out the final container of spent fuel for reprocessing at Sellafield in Cumbria.

It marks the end of an era for the company, and defuelling operations for all the UK’s first generation nuclear reactors.

Magnox claims that 99% of the total radioactivity has now been removed. Staff at the twin-reactor site have worked tirelessly to remove the 87,890 fuel elements.

The elements, which measure 43 inches in length, would stretch for 17-and-a-half miles if placed end to end.

Stuart Law, Wylfa Site Director, said: “I am extremely proud of the whole team for working together to reach this important milestone in record time.

"It has not been easy and the work at Wylfa is far from complete, but today is a significant landmark in the site’s journey towards care and maintenance.

“The defuelling process was hampered by ageing equipment for the first 18 months which brought challenges, but the dedication and problem-solving abilities of the Wylfa team and expertise drawn from across the nuclear industry led to what is, overall, an incredible performance in completing this task.

“We have always been grateful of the support given to the site from the local community, and we hope the important part the site plays in the area can continue as we move towards becoming singularly focused on decommissioning and hazard reduction.”

The Wylfa Site, the biggest and last Magnox site to be built in the UK. It operated from 1972 until 2015 and generated 232 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity – enough to power 1.1 million homes per year for 44 years.

Wylfa can now move into its decommissioning phase, by Magnox and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), who own the site,

Gwen Parry-Jones, Magnox CEO, added: “I have been extremely impressed by the innovation, hard work and commitment of the team to safely reach such an important milestone in the life-cycle of the plant.

“As the final Magnox site to defuel, this marks a significant landmark for Magnox as a whole in carrying out our mission to safely decommission our fleet and marks a new focus on the next phase for the whole company.”

Staff were joined by representatives from across the NDA Group to watch the last flask depart to Valley railhead.

Chris Connelly, Chief Operating Officer, Direct Rail Services, (DRS) said: “DRS has worked closely with Magnox since 1999 transporting flasks loaded with spent fuel from Magnox sites to Sellafield for reprocessing.

"Over the years, DRS has safely and securely travelled over three million miles delivering over 9,000 tonnes of spent fuel on behalf of Magnox.".

Wylfa Site team will now focus on further decommissioning activities and reducing hazards.