Hinkley Point B nuclear power station to close down by 2022

• 3 years ago (2020-11-23)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 639

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EDF has announced that it plans to start decommissioning of Hinkley Point B nuclear power station in Somerset, England by July 2022. The station is not currently generating power, being taken off-line in June 2020 for inspection and maintenance.

EDF extended the estimated generating life of Hinkley Point B in 2012, extending the life by seven years from 2016 to March 2023. This new announcement means that the site will stop production almost a year before this. Once Hinkley Point B stops generating power for good, EDF will begin de-fuelling the station as the first stage of nuclear decommissioning.

EDF said that it is talking to the 500 full-time staff and 200 contractors at the site about their futures. Matt Sykes, Managing Director of EDF Generation, said: “As a responsible operator, we feel it is now the right thing to do to give clarity to our staff, partners, and community about the future life of the station.”