ONR’s Deputy Chief Inspector and Director of the Civil Nuclear Reactor programme was interviewed by the BBC earlier this week. In response to the BBC feature 'Dungeness B nuclear plant operator wants safety limit raised' ONR would not allow continued operation of any nuclear reactor unless it was safe to do so. We recognise the challenges presented by ageing of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) fleet in the UK, and we continue to pay close attention to the problems associated with the graphite core of the reactors. We are satisfied that the reactors are safe to operate. It is the responsibility of the operator, EDF to monitor the graphite behaviour and demonstrate the continued safe operation of the reactors to the satisfaction of ONR.
Hompage image courtesy of EDF Energy.