EDF delays Hinkley Point B restart after graphite inspections

摘要

EDF Energy has delayed the return to service date of the two nuclear units at its Hinkley Point B station in western England by three months into 2021 to allow time for the nuclear regulator to review the company's case that the reactors are safe to operate after inspections of expanding graphite cracking, Peter Evans, the Hinkley Point B station director, said in an email Sept. 30. Hinkley Point B-1 will now return to operation March 12 instead of Dec. 14, while the return to service date for Hinkley Point B-2 has been put back to Feb. 26 from Nov. 30, Evans said. The 460-MW Hinkley Point B-1 was shut Feb. 21 for planned graphite cracking inspections and maintenance, while the 480-MW Hinkley Point B-2 was shut in April for the same reason, according to EDF Energy.