nuclear-news

EDF keeping aged nuclear plants running in UK

Ageing nuclear plants to stay open till 2023 Morning Star,  04 December 2012 by Alex Ballard   Anti-nuclear campaigners attacked the “hazardous” decision by EDF Energy today to keep two of Britain’s oldest nuclear power stations in use until at least 2023.

Hunterston B in North Ayrshire and Hinkley Point B near Bridgwater in
Somerset were both given seven-year extensions to their existing 2016
decommissioning dates…..
Stop Hinkley spokesman Theo Simon said: “This decision to prop up the
aging and cracked reactor at Hinkley B well past its sell-by date is
potentially very hazardous for all of us.

“EDF and Centrica may want to squeeze every last drop of profit out of
it, but the potential for a nuclear mishap at Hinkley B increases
exponentially with age.”

And Scottish Greens urged SNP ministers to stand up to EDF on the
Hunterston extension.

Glasgow MSP and Scottish Green Party energy spokesman Patrick Harvie
said: “Scotland doesn’t need to sweat its nuclear assets to keep the
lights on.

“This extension shows how light-touch regulation is failing us and the
Scottish government shouldn’t just wave it through.

“The Scottish Parliament has voted against new nuclear and it’s clear
our renewables targets are achievable.

“Why on earth would we allow EDF to increase our toxic waste legacy
and continue the risks of running a plant built in the ’60s?” asked Mr
Harvie….. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/126833

December 8, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK