EDF Energy plans early closure of Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant
Power company EDF Energy reportedly plans to shut Hinkley Point B nuclear plant in south-west England earlier than planned.
Reuters reported that the company will confirm the date of closure by the end of this year.
The 1GW nuclear power plant, located in Somerset, started operations in 1976 and is scheduled to shut permanently in early 2023.
Recently, the company made a statement announcing plans to initiate decommissioning of the Hunterston B nuclear power plant in Scotland by January 2022.
An EDF Energy spokesperson said: “It is possible we may need to move into defuelling within the next two years. We will review this decision in the same detailed way as we have with Hunterston B, and expect to be able to confirm the outcome by the end of this year.”
The decision to close the Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B plants comes as a result of ageing issues and identified cracks within their graphite bricks.
