Union 鈥榮hocked and concerned鈥 by departure of Tony Fountain

The head of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has quit his post.

Former BP executive Tony Fountain is returning to the oil and gas sector.

Fountain had been in the job for less than two years. He was Britain鈥檚 highest paid civil servant with a salary of 拢680,000.

He is joining a Mumbai-based energy company Reliance, which recently signed a 拢4.6bn deal with BP.

The Prospect union expressed 鈥渟hock and concern鈥 at the departure.

Deputy General Secretary Mike Clancy said: 鈥淲e had a good relationship with Tony Fountain which allowed for a robust dialogue on the challenges facing the NDA and the industry.鈥

Clancy said his departure suggested policy differences at the NDA. 鈥淎 change in strategy would be unwelcome when the industry needs stability.鈥

He said: 鈥淎n early replacement for Fountain with suitable private sector experience is essential and we expect the industry will want guarantees that NDA strategy will not be derailed.鈥

Glancy said the NDA will soon be deciding on the future construction of a MOX 2 plant as part of its consultation on plutonium options, being announced at the end of October. It is also due to choose a new parent body company to run Dounreay.

NDA Chairman Stephen Henwood said: 鈥淲e are disappointed to be losing him and wish him every success. The NDA鈥檚 mission remains one of the most exciting and challenging roles in the public sector and we look forward to finding a suitably experienced and skilled successor, a process that has already begun.鈥