Improvements needed at EDF operated facility, say ONR
The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has moved Hartlepool nuclear power station in northeast England into significantly-enhanced regulatory attention.
The ONR said in a statement it had made the decision based on evidence gained from “targeted engagements” at the EDF-operated site that identified areas where safety improvements are required.
The statement said the significantly enhanced regulatory attention level reflects the effort the ONR is applying to influence improvements in areas including conventional health and safety, the number of site incidents and the delivery of agreed performance improvements.
“Importantly, Hartlepool remains safe to operate and the ONR’s ongoing inspections and assessments continue to support this view,” the statement said.
However, the increased level of regulatory attention indicates the additional effort required for the ONR to gain such confidence.
Dan Hasted, the ONR’s director of regulation for operating facilities, said: “When required, we place sites into significantly-enhanced attention to achieve improved performance in specific areas. This is a key part of our role as an independent regulator.
“EDF is committed to delivering a range of improvements at Hartlepool, and we are overseeing this.”
The Hartlepool site has two operational advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs) which both began commercial operation in 1989. Hartlepool A-1 has a net capacity of 590 MW plant and Hartlepool A-2 of 595 MW.
AGRs are a type of nuclear reactor designed and operated by the UK, using graphite as the neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant. They have been the backbone of the UK’s nuclear power generation fleet since the 1980s. The Generation II AGR was developed from the Magnox reactor, the UK’ first-generation reactor design.
The ONR said it sets regulatory attention levels based on an assessment of overall performance.
This considers a broad range of safety and operational factors, reflecting judgements across nuclear safety, nuclear site health and safety and, where applicable, civil nuclear security.
