One of the reactors at Hinkley Point B power station, near Burnham-On-Sea, is on track to return to partial operation during the next fortnight.
British Energy confirmed on Monday (December 18th) that work is on track and, as reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com last month, one of the reactors will be back in operation by January 2007.
“Reactor 3 is due to restart at the end of this month and reactor 4 will be back at the end of January,” British Energy spokesman Martin Pearce said on Monday.
He added that both reactors will operate at 70 per cent capacity until March 2008, when they are scheduled to return to 100% productivity.
It comes both the station’s two advanced gas-cooled reactors were shut down after cracks were found in a graphite core and boiler pipes.
British Energy says the reactors will initially generate only 70 per cent of their normal capacity to reduce wear on the plant, which normally produces three per cent of the whole UK’s electricity.
Burnham-based campaigners have expressed their concerns about the re-opening of the station.
Angela Wicks from the Parents Concerned About Hinkley group said in a recent statement: “The station is 30 years old and clearly at the end of its life. We should not put profits above public safety. The station should be closed down permanently and we should look at cleaner and safer ways of getting our energy in future. We owe this to our children.”
But British Energy says that the cracks are within its safety plan and the decommissioning date for the station remains 2011.
RELATED LINKS:
Hinkley Point will partially re-open in January 2007
Parents group calls for permanent closure of Hinkley Point
Hinkley Point ‘may never re-open’ say campaigners
Cracks in boiler pipes force temporary closure of Hinkley Point
Earlier check-up for Hinkley Point power station
Hinkley gas release ‘posed no risk’ to people in Burnham
Hinkley Point ‘smoke’ sighting was a false alarm
New document reveals hidden fears about Hinkley Point power station
Hinkley Point gets all-clear after Environment Agency radiation checks
