OPERATORS OF the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness yesterday revealed that 500 jobs are likely to go in the next five years—and that decommissioning could end before the agreed date of 2033.

At the same time, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced it is to invest an extra £12 million in Caithness and Sutherland over the next three years to help diversify the area’s economy.

UKAEA Dounreay has published updated projections of manpower needs as more of the fast reactor is cleaned out and demolished. Current employment of around 2000 is set to fall by 500 over the next five years and to 23 after decommissioning.

Dounreay acting site director Simon Middlemas said, “There are overwhelming safety, environmental and security reasons for completing the clean-up and demolition of the site as quickly as it is safe to do so. But I recognise that closure of the site … has major social and economic consequences.

“UKAEA, supported by our business partners AMEC and CH2MHILL, welcomes today’s announ- cement and will continue to work closely with Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise and other partners to support regeneration of the economy.”