British Energy ready to restart second nuclear reactor after problems

Published on Monday 2 February 2009 20:32

NUCLEAR power generator British Energy yesterday said it was ready to restart another reactor hit by technical issues.

The firm has been dogged by long-term problems at its Heysham and Hartlepool sites, but said a "comprehensive" return to service for Reactor 1 at its Heysham 1 plant was due in the "coming days". East Kilbride-based BE, which is being bought by French giant EDF, also said last week it was ready to reopen Reactor 1 at Hartlepool.

Reactors at the two power stations have undergone detailed inspections since problems were discovered in October 2007.

The Heysham 1 go-ahead comes after approval from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) to return the unit to service.

BE also expects to return the second reactor at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool's Reactor 2 to service in the coming weeks.

The closures followed the discovery of a broken wire on a boiler closure unit – which forms part of the nuclear reactor – leading to engineering modifications.

British Energy employs 6,000 staff and has eight nuclear power stations in total. Alongside Hartlepool, and Heysham 1 and 2 in Lancashire, its sites include Dungeness B in Kent, Hinkley Point B in Somerset, Hunterston B in Ayrshire, Sizewell B in Suffolk and Torness in East Lothian.

The group, which produces one-sixth of the UK's electricity, is being bought by French state-owned giant EDF in a 12.5 billion takeover.