The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted formal consent to EDF Energy’s (EDF) project to decommission Hinkley Point B nuclear power station.
This decision comes after a public consultation and a detailed assessment by ONR specialist inspectors of EDF’s environmental statement and Habitats Regulations Assessment.
The environmental statement included a detailed environmental impact assessment for the proposed decommissioning project at the Somerset site, along with mitigation measures designed to prevent or reduce any significant adverse environmental impacts.
ONR is satisfied that the environmental statement proposes adequate mitigation measures to address the adverse environmental impacts of the decommissioning project and considers the statement to be complete, of the right quality, and in line with relevant good practice.
The published project assessment report, which provides an overview of ONR’s decision, and public consultation response, is available to view.
Dan Hasted, ONR Director of Regulation – Operating Facilities Directorate, said: “After careful assessment and public consultation, we are satisfied that EDF's decommissioning plans for Hinkley Point B include appropriate measures to protect people and the environment.
“We will continue to proportionately regulate the Hinkley Point B site throughout the decommissioning phase to ensure the licensee complies with applicable legislation to safeguard workers and the public.”
In August 2022, Hinkley Point B reached the end of its operating life after nearly 46 years of generating electricity and moved into its defuelling phase.
Since then, both reactors at the site have been defueled in advance of the site moving into its decommissioning phase.
The nuclear site will transfer from EDF to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) in due course, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. NRS will decommission the site, which will involve dismantling and demolishing the plant and buildings as well site clearance and restoration.
Currently, NRS is responsible for safely decommissioning 13 sites across the country, including the first generation of nuclear and research sites.
ONR’s consent was given under the Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations, 1999 (EIADR).