Dungeness B nuclear power station in the UK, which was supposed to close operations by 2018, will stay active for another ten years until 2028.
The nuclear plant is owned by EDF Energy. It will continue generating low-carbon electricity to serve around 1.5 million homes every year.
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The extended life of the facility is a result of the additional £150m investment, which was allowed after the plant was thoroughly reviewed for safety by independent nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
Dungeness B is presently investing almost £600m per year for its eight nuclear stations, all of which are part of a wider EDF Energy’s programme, aimed at extension of their operational lives.
A £75m improvement programme is already under process at the Dungeness B facility for upgrading its control room computer systems. The nuclear plant will also have enhanced flood defences owing to an on-going £8m initiative.
All seven of EDF’s Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors (AGF) are likely to be operational by 2023, which is when the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C is scheduled to be commissioned.
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By GlobalDataEDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz said: "The decision to extend the life of Dungeness B is only possible because of the collaboration, innovation and technical expertise of EDF Energy and its long-term partners.
"Customers will benefit from this significant investment through many more years of reliable, low carbon electricity."
Dungeness B station director Martin Pearson said: "We’ve invested heavily in Dungeness so that we could make the case to safely extend its life by ten years.
"Life extension means the station will continue to provide hundreds of skilled jobs and provide a launchpad for the apprentices who will begin their careers at Dungeness B.
"We’ll also carry on contributing more than £40m to the local economy in Kent and East Sussex."
Image: Dungeness B nuclear power plant. Image: courtesy of EDF Energy.
