Fault in reactor triggered shutdown

A COMPONENT fault caused the shutdown of one of the two nuclear reactors at Torness power station in East Lothian, its operator has revealed.

Reactor two stopped generating electricity on Sunday when a component within protection equipment failed, it emerged yesterday. EDF Energy said the reactor, situated near Dunbar, shut down safely.

It had been due to go offline later this week for routine maintenance work. The power company said this work would start early.

A spokeswoman for EDF Energy added: “There were no health or environmental impacts.”

However, Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who represents Lothian, questioned why the first information about the incident only emerged on Monday afternoon.