The UK’s nuclear output has fallen to its lowest level since 1982 with the industry warning that new reactors are needed urgently after decades of procrastination by successive governments.

The Daily Telegraph said the permanent closure of the two-unit Hinkley Point B power station in 2022 and prolonged outages at several other sites caused nuclear power output to fall from 48 to 41 TWh in 2023, according to official data published by the government and power company EDF.

It marks a 15% decline compared with a year ago and means nuclear supplied 13% of the UK’s electricity in 2023, compared with 30% in the 1990s.

In recent years the UK has generated about 15% of its power from its fleet of commercial nuclear power plants, but most are being retired this decade, with the last one – Sizewell B – due to close in 2035. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UK’s nuclear share in 2022was 14.2%.