The planned partial privatisation of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd had been put back until after the next election, it was announced yesterday.
The British government had hoped to raise £1.5 billion through the sale of up to 40 per cent of the company, but recent concerns over safety and management standards at BNFL-operated Sellafield, in Cumbria, have forced a delay until late 2002 at the earliest, said Energy Minister Ms Helen Liddell.