New chapter begins in Hinkley Point B decommissioning
BBCA new chapter has begun at Hinkley Point B as the former nuclear power station enters an 85-year decommissioning programme.
The Somerset site stopped generating electricity in 2022 after nearly 46 years and has been transferred from EDF to the Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), which will oversee it dismantling.
The move will see about 250 workers transfer to the organisation, including some from families who have worked at Hinkley for generations.
NRS is also decommissioning neighbouring Hinkley Point A and CEO Rob Fletcher said "we look forward to working together across both sites" to "deliver safe, secure decommissioning for the benefit of the community".
Why will decommissioning take 85 years?
The NRS is a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
Before the site could be transferred, engineers spent three years to defuel the reactor at Hinkley B, with more than 4,900 elements of spent fuel removed and packaged before being taken to Sellafield for safe storage.
The first phase, which will last until 2038, includes the dismantling of all buildings and plant materials except for the site's safestore structure. This facility will be used to store and manage the residential nuclear waste from the power station.
The second phase will see "a period of relative inactivity" of up to 70 years from 2039, to allow for the radioactive materials within the safestore to safely decay.
The final phase will see the former reactor and debris vaults being dismantled and removed.
Meanwhile, a new nuclear power station, Hinkley Point C, is being constructed near Hinkley B.
Now, as the station enters its next phase, workers who once helped run the power plant are beginning the decades-long task of dismantling it.
NRS managing director Dr Andy Munro, who is responsible for both Hinkley A and Hinkley B, said his interest in the industry began at a young age.
"I came here on a school trip when I was ten years old, which ignited my interest for nuclear.
"I remember sitting on the school bus looking at both reactors and now I've had a 30 year career in this fantastic industry."
'My grandad built it, now I'm taking it apart'
It has also provided jobs to generations of Somerset families.
Kelly Theobald has been at the site for 19 years, working for Hinkley A and Hinkley B.
"I'm a third generation Hinkley worker. My granddad came out in the 50s to help build it, my dad came out in the 70s to help run it, and I joined in 2007 to help start taking it apart," she said.
The A site began generating electricity in 1965 and was joined by the B station in 1976.
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