Heysham 2 - Inspection ID: 52759 | Office for Nuclear Regulation

Executive summary

Date(s) of inspection:

June 2023

Aim of inspection

I undertook this inspection at Heysham 2 station during the Reactor 8 Statutory outage for 2023.

The aim of the inspection was to sample evidence to support (or otherwise) the recommendation to the project inspector that the plant may be safely started up and safely operated until the next periodic shutdown in support of Licence Condition 30 (periodic shutdown), from a civil engineering perspective (NS-INSP-GD-030 Revision 6).This was undertaken in accordance with General Inspection Guide (ONR-INSP-GD-064) by carrying out targeted compliance inspection and sampling of the primary containment structure against Licence Conditions (LCs) 23 (operating rules) and 28 (examination, inspection, maintenance and testing) compliance inspections.

This intervention is one of a number of LC28 compliance inspections performed by ONR during the periodic shutdown of HYB Reactor 8 (R8). These inspections inform the ONR’s decision on whether to issue a licence instrument granting Consent for the return to service of HYB R8 following its 2023 periodic shutdown, as required by LC30(1).

This intervention specifically focused on arrangements for the management of the PSSR review of the APEX report regarding the R8 Prestressed concrete pressure vessel. I judged this intervention based on the findings of the intervention, the quality of the data I observed and collated and the knowledge and experience of the licensee’s staff.

Subject(s) of inspection

LC 23 - Operating rules - Rating: GREEN
LC 28 - Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing - Rating: GREEN

Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made

I undertook an inspection at Heysham 2 Reactor 8 statutory outage to review the Statutory Examination Report produced by the Appointed Examiner (APEX).

At the time of the inspection, I judged that the progress in the outage was adequate for the APEX to form their conclusions for the Statutory Examination Report, with the exception of the third-party reports being available in time for the site inspection, perhaps having to make reference to emails in the absence of the full reports, and with the exception of there being sufficient and consistent information about the leak HYB/R8/WA/43 at the time of the inspection.

I noted the work for HYB/R8/WA/43 leak had been impeded by there being other outage work occurring in the SSD room, rendering it a C2 area, which I was not able to access. The station are progressing the works associated with this leak once resource is available and access is available to the area. I will continue to assess the progress made with this leak sealing work as part of the wider assessment timescales.

I observed a minor shortfall in the management of the leak database alongside procedural adherence with Company Standard CTS-042 regarding labelling leaks when identified to assist with tracking through the system. I have raised a level 4 regulatory issue (RI-11481) to track improvements in oversight and governance to return the sites to compliance.

As work is ongoing during the outage and the APEX has identified the correct areas for selection and completion to comply with the maintenance schedule requirements, I have rated this inspection green.

Conclusion

From the inspection, I judged that the progress in the outage was adequate for the APEX to form their conclusions for the Statutory Examination Report, with the exception of the reports being available in time and without information about the leak HYB/R8/WA/43 at the time of the inspection. The station are progressing the works associated with this leak once access is available to the area as part of the outage. The APEX is seeking written confirmation of the output of tests and results in anticipation of the reports that will be included in the 28 day Statutory Examination Report.

I will continue to assess the progress made with the work associated with leak HYB/R8/WA/43 as part of the wider assessment timescales, and report in AR-01204 accordingly.