10-Year Lifeline for U.K. Nuclear Plant

---

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The Dungeness B nuclear power plant in Kent, England, is to get a 10-year lifeline following an announcement by owner operator EDF Energy.

The company, part of French state-owned Electricité de France SA (EDF) (EPA:EDF) (Paris), said it will invest £150 million ($225 million) to extend the life of the plant, which houses two 545-megawatt (MW) advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs) capable of powering 1.5 million homes. The plant was due for closure in 2018 but will now continue to operate until 2028.

The decision follows extensive reviews of the plant's safety and work with the U.K.'s independent nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). EDF Energy has already spent £75 million ($112.5 million) to upgrade the control room computer systems at Dungeness B alongside £8 million ($12 million) on enhanced flood defences.

Dungeness B employs 550 people plus another 200 contract staff which, EDF said, can increase four-fold during planned maintenance programmes.

Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy Chief Executive, said: "The decision to extend the life of Dungeness B is only possible because of the collaboration, innovation and technical expertise of EDF Energy and its long-term partners. Customers will benefit from this significant investment through many more years of reliable, low carbon electricity."

Martin Pearson, Station Director at Dungeness B, added: "We've invested heavily in Dungeness so that we could make the case to safely extend its life by 10 years. Life extension means the station will continue to provide hundreds of skilled jobs and provide a launch pad for the apprentices who will begin their careers at Dungeness B. We'll also carry on contributing more than £40 million to the local economy in Kent and East Sussex."

The life extension at Dungeness B is part of EDF's program to extend the lives of its eight nuclear power stations in the U.K.. Based on the expected life extensions, all seven AGR stations will be operating in 2023 when the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C is due to be commissioned, subject to a final investment decision. For additional information, see October 21, 2013, article - First New U.K. Nuclear Project Moves Forward.

In related news, demolition of the turbine hall at the nearby, closed Dungeness A nuclear power plant has begun. It forms the final part of a three-year decommissioning process. Dungeness A had a pair of 225 MW Magnox reactors which operated for 40 years until 2006.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.