23 May (NucNet): Britain’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) says it is content for nuclear plants to continue to operate subject to satisfactory periodic safety reviews (PSRs) being carried out and as long as the results from routine maintenance, inspection and testing “continue to support the agreed plant safety case”.
The ONR was responding to statements in the media yesterday that EDF had begun talks with the ONR regarding the extension of the operational lifetime of its existing fleet of reactors.
It said: “ONR staff are engaged with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd on their lifetime management programme for the extension of the operational lifetime of their existing fleet of nuclear power reactors.”
But the ONR pointed out that nuclear plant licensees “do not apply for a reactor life extension”, but rather justify safety of their operations throughout the life of the licensed nuclear installation.
The ONR requires that safety cases are periodically reviewed, normally every 10 years. The licensees have well developed arrangements for these PSRs and they are “embedded” as part of normal business both for the licensees and the ONR, a statement said.
The ONR said any decision to extend the life of a reactor is a commercial one. “Whatever the decision is, the licensee needs to demonstrate to the ONR that what they plan to do is safe and secure.”
EDF would not comment on the media reports. Instead, it referred NucNet to a statement published yesterday which did not make any reference to lifetime extensions. The statement said EDF welcomed government plans for electricity market reform.
The statement also said EDF and its partner Centrica plan to take a final investment decision on possible new build at the end of this year.
EDF and Centrica plan to build four new nuclear reactors in Britain “subject to the right investment framework”, the statement said.
EDF's 15 existing reactors are located around the UK at Dungeness, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Hunterston, Sizewell and Torness. Other than Sizewell, these are all scheduled to shut down by the end of 2023.
