A former nuclear power station will begin its 95-year decommissioning process after regulators granted formal consent.
EDF’s Hinkley Point B, which lies on the Somerset coast near Stogursey, has been given the green light to be demolished by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
In August 2022, Hinkley Point B reached the end of its operating life after nearly 46 years of generating electricity.
Dan Hasted, ONR director of regulation, said: “We will continue to proportionately regulate the Hinkley Point B site throughout the decommissioning phase to safeguard workers and the public.”
The nuclear site will now transfer from EDF to the Nuclear Restoration Services, which will oversee the site’s dismantling.
Under the proposals, Hinkley Point B, which opened in 1976, could be decommissioned in three phases.
The first phase, which will last until 2038, includes the dismantling of all buildings and plant materials except for the site’s safestore structure. This facility will be used to store and manage the residential nuclear waste from the power station.
The second phase will see “a period of relative inactivity” of up to 70 years from 2039, to allow for the radioactive materials within the safestore to safely decay.
The final phase will see the former reactor and debris vaults being dismantled and removed.
Meanwhile, a new nuclear power station, Hinkley Point C, is being constructed a few miles from Hinkley B.
