The two units have been offline since late summer 2018 because the company, the UK arm of French state utility EDF, has been carrying out inspections and maintenance of pipes carrying steam to the turbine.
EDF Energy is also trying to complete repair work on corrosion identified during inspections of safety backup systems at the station.
An EDF spokesperson told NucNet in an email that Dungeness B is undergoing a major two-year investment programme to help secure the station’s future to 2028 and potentially beyond. “In recent months we have made good progress in addressing outstanding issues and the regulatory body has already approved much of this work,” the email said.
“We still have some work to do on the station’s boilers before we ask for final restart approval from our regulator and so our latest position for estimated return to service is: July 8 for Dungeness B-2 and July 18 for Dungeness B-1.”
Both reactors are 520-MW advanced gas-cooled units. They began commercial operation in 1985 and 1989.
In October 2019 the UK’s nuclear regulator said it would continue increased oversight at Dungeness B due to a range of complex age-related issues.
