The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has moved Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station operated by EDF into enhanced regulatory attention for safety. ONR said it had made the decision “based on evidence gained from ongoing targeted engagements at the site which have identified areas where improvements are required”.
ONR added that the change in regulatory attention level does not relate to EDF’s recent decision to extend the operating lifetime of the plant, which is subject to ongoing safety standards being demonstrated.
The enhanced regulatory attention level reflects the effort ONR is using to influence improvements in areas including conventional health and safety, the number of site incidents and the production of nuclear safety cases. ONR noted that its inspections and assessments at Hartlepool “continue to support the regulatory view that the station remains safe to operate”.
Mike Webb, ONR’s Superintending Inspector for Operating Reactors, said: “When required, we place sites into enhanced attention to achieve improved performance in specific areas, which is a key part of our role as an independent regulator.”
He added: “It’s encouraging that EDF has already submitted a performance improvement plan to us to address the areas we identified as requiring improvement at the site. We have reviewed this plan and are confident it will address our outlined concerns. With our enabling regulatory approach, we are committed to working with the licensee to ensure all these issues are addressed.”
Mark Lees, Hartlepool Power Station Director, said the plant has an excellent operating and safety record built up over more than 40 years. “We have always worked with the ONR to address, and flag, technical issues as they emerge and to ensure they are content with the way we’re working. Our action plan will ensure we continuously improve our performance on those issues identified by ourselves and the regulator,” he noted.
Hartlepool NPP has two advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs) – 590 MWe and 595 MWe – which started generating electricity in 1983. Hartlepool was the third UK NPP to use AGR technology. The plant was initially operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board but since privatisation of the UK’s electric supply industry in 1990, it has been owned by Nuclear Electric, British Energy, and now by EDF Energy. The station was originally expected to shut down in 2009, but its operating life has been extended several times and is now expected to close in March 2027.
