The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has announced that the Hartlepool nuclear power station has been placed under enhanced regulatory attention. The plant is in northeast England and managed by EDF. The decision for heightened oversight was due to identified safety concerns. However, ONR said it is unrelated to EDF’s efforts to extend the station’s lifespan. It also stated that the plant remains safe to operate. According to Mark Webb, ONR’s Superintending Inspector for Operating Reactors, EDF has already submitted a performance improvement plan to address the areas requiring improvement at the site.
Hartlepool power station has two advanced gas-cooled reactors which started generating electricity in the early 1980s. Mark Lees, the station’s director, said they have a proven safety record of more than 40 years and they have always worked with the ONR to address technical issues as they emerge. He added that the submitted action plan will ensure an improved performance in the areas reported by the regulator.
