New power station reaches ‘major milestone’ as virus reshapes work
A “MAJOR milestone” has been reached in the building of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, it has been announced.
Energy giant EDF said workers at its site in Somerset have completed the 49,000-tonne base for the station’s second reactor on schedule, meeting a target date set more than four years ago.
EDF said it was a major milestone, completed by teams who have had to adapt to new coronavirus working conditions.
The achievement comes less than a year after completion of the first reactor’s base in June 2019.
The company said completion of the second reactor base has benefited from experience gained on the first unit, which it added has led to significant increases in productivity.
EDF said this will benefit the proposed follow-on project at Sizewell C in Suffolk, which it submitted an application for last week.
The coronavirus crisis led to a number of changes on the Hinkley site, including reducing the number of workers to enable social distancing, and concentrating on the most critical areas of construction. Where social distancing is not possible, workers have been using extra protective equipment.
Hinkley Point C managing director Stuart Crooks said: “They have adapted to major changes in everyday behaviours and working practices which would have been unimaginable a few months ago.”
The scheduled date for the first Hinkley unit to be operating is 2025, with the second unit around a year later.
The power station, which is costing over £21bn to build, will supply six million homes.
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Hinkley Point C will be a crucial part of meeting our energy needs.”
Hinkley Point C will be a crucial part of meeting our energy needs.
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi.