Taxpayers pick up reprocessing bill in £2 billion British Energy bail-out

In a rescue package for nuclear generator British Energy, the Government will pay £150-200 million per year to meet the company's fuel management liabilities - essentially subsidising BNFL's controversial THORP reprocessing plant. The company's wider liabilities are now also underwritten by the public sector - contrary to promises made when it was privatised just six years ago.