Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This was a planned inspection of EDF Energy (EDFE) Nuclear Generation Ltd.’s Hunterston B Power Station, undertaken as part of the planned intervention strategy for the Operating Facilities Division (OFD) of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The work was carried out in accordance with the planned inspection programme contained in the Hunterston B Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for 2021/22.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
As part of this intervention the nominated site inspector for Hunterston B and I, the End of Generation (EoG) project inspector, carried out a compliance inspection against:
- Licence condition (LC) 35 – Decommissioning.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
No system based inspection was undertaken hence, this is not applicable for this intervention.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
We provided the following feedback on the key points from the inspection:
- The inspection provided ONR with a greater understanding of Hunterston B’s developing plans for deconstruction and the immediate work activities being progressed at the station and EDFE’s corporate centre.
- The station’s focus to date has been on the dual mission of safe operations and preparations for defuelling. After EoG the duel mission will be safe defuelling and preparations for deconstruction. The station recognises this and is actively planning for this change in focus.
- EDFE has been preparing for deconstruction, however the station does not yet have an executable plan for early deconstruction preparations. The station has initiated development of an executable plan detailing the work activities that must be undertaken during the defuelling period. ONR will engage with the station to gain confidence the plan is complete, underpinned and deliverable in the time available.
- To date EoG interactions between ONR and EDFE have largely focussed on defuelling preparations. We advised engagement was required on preparations for deconstruction, initially on strategic assumptions, the key decision calendar, the enablers for the key decisions. Initially this should be in the context of Hunterston B as the lead EoG station and reflect then learning from Magnox stations in the transition from operations to decommissioning.
Conclusion of Intervention
From this inspection of LC35 that examined the station preparations for deconstruction following EoG at Hunterston B, there were no findings that could significantly undermine nuclear safety. Therefore a rating of Green, no formal action, was assigned to the inspection.