Timing 'unfortunate' for Sellafield plant

The Manx government will monitor closely the possible effects on the Isle of Man of a new reprocessing plant for nuclear waste in Cumbria.

A report by United Kingdom government scientists suggests a brand new plutonium-uranium mixed oxide, or MOX, plant should be built at Sellafield on the Irish Sea coast.

It's a key strategy to recycle a huge stockpile of plutonium left over from other nuclear waste.

The Island's Environment Minister John Shimmin says the Manx and Irish governments will work together to resist the plans.

Mr Shimmin says the project may not be popular in Britain, in the light of Japan's unfolding nuclear crisis (first part of audio file):

Mr Shimmin says the project has repercussions for the Isle of Man and will be monitored very closely (second part of audio file):