Rat infestation at nuclear power plant construction site in Somerset

A rat infestation has disrupted construction works at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, where EDF plans to develop a brand-new nuclear power plant. In early April, trade unions representing workers at the site informed the French energy giant that the facility was invaded by rats, posing a serious health and safety risk. The unions asked for immediate action to stop the infestation. According to one source, the rats are everywhere, especially near the canteens, and the situation has worsened over time due to the increasing amount of rubbish on the site. A Hinkley Point C spokesperson said that the presence of rats is a common problem at large construction sites and that a specialist company has been contacted to address the issue.
Once completed, the nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C should create 15,000 jobs and provide power to around 6 million homes in the UK. It is expected to become operative in the early 2030s, but constant delays and spiralling costs have raised doubts about the feasibility of the project. Moreover, workers at the site have complained about poor conditions and low pay, going even on strike last November over the inadequate security access system. Despite the infestation at Hinkley Point C, rats are not a common sight in nuclear facilities thanks to strict safety regulations. However, in 2013 operators at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan suspected that rats may have caused a short circuit in a switchboard, triggering a power cut. A dead rodent was found near the scene of the accident. Although nuclear safety at the plant was not affected, engineers spent nearly 30 hours to repair the damage.