'We plan to keep as much of the family as possible when Hinkley B closes and we open Hinkley C'
Bosses at Hinkley B say they still expect most staff to transfer to Hinkley C in future - after the 70s power station was given permission to continue generating low carbon electricity for another year.
Last updated 18th May 2021
Earlier this year and during the latest lockdown the two reactors at Hinkley B, which started operating in 1976, were allowed to restart production after £3 million assessments were made of the reactors’ graphite.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation say the site can operate until July 2022 before a process of defuelling must begin. Hinkley B's ancillary buildings will then be removed although the main reactors will remain in place in a 'safe store' for generations to come.
Conversations with staff - including apprentices - on Hinkley B continue with bosses saying they are keen to retain as much of the 'family' as possible as they continue construction on Hinkley C - which remains Europe's biggest construction site. Around 750 people work at Hinkley B, including 250 contractors. Hinkley C is due to start operating in 2026.
Hinkley B has generated enough power to date for each home in the UK to run for three years. It is believed more than £4 million a year in wages goes to staff living locally to the power plant.
Peter Evans, Station Director of Hinkley Point B, said: “Our core purpose at Hinkley Point B is helping Britain achieve net zero and we have been doing this since long before the term net zero arrived.
“The approval to restart power generation, which has come after many months of physical works and technical assessments of our site, plant and nuclear reactors, is really positive news.
“When I look back at the last 12 months it is incredible to think we have delivered a major inspection and maintenance programme and a thorough justification to restart the nuclear reactors, all as we grappled with a pandemic which has fundamentally changed the way we work.
“But we’ve done the work, proved our case and I’m thrilled that we can get back online and once again do what we do best.”
EDF took Hinkley Point B offline last year for detailed assessments of the nuclear reactors’ graphite cores. Detailed analysis by specialist EDF teams revealed that the graphite was in exactly the condition the company had forecast.
Last autumn the ONR’s Chief Inspector noted the number of cracks in one of the reactors’ graphite was ‘lower than expected’.
The company plans to run Hinkley’s two reactors for six months, pause for further inspections and, subject to ONR approval, generate power for a second six month period.
It’s expected the 12 months of operation will generate eight terrawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 2m homes for a year.
Last November EDF announced that Hinkley Point B would operate no later than July 2022 before moving into the defuelling phase.