Somerset Council visit Hinkley Point A & B sites

Politicians and officers from Somerset Council were treated to behind-the-scenes tours of two of the county’s most important industrial facilities on May 7 2024. Senior politicians, council officers and members of the Site Stakeholder Group, were given extensive tours of the two power stations and saw for themselves the work hundreds of skilled nuclear professionals are undertaking to decommission the two facilities.

Cllr Leigh Redman, Chair of the Hinkley Point Site Stakeholders Group (SSG) who facilitated the visit said: “The SSG is part of the communication function between government and community. As independent Chair of the SSG, I am always keen to enable relevant people to be connected. The new administration at Somerset Council was not fully aware of the decommissioning programme on site, so I worked with both stations to allow interested SSG members, the council executive and officers to see and hear about the work on site. Decommissioning is the start of the next phase for each site, the employment opportunities are huge. People forget that when C station starts producing there will still be more people working on Hinkley Point A & B. Decommissioning is a career for life.”

HPA Site Director Mark Pitts started the visit with an overview of the decommissioning process and the challenges that come with it. He highlighted the importance of safety and environmental protection throughout the process, emphasising the need for innovation and problem-solving skills.

Mark Pitts, Site Director at HPA said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our visitors to Hinkley Point A and B power stations for a firsthand look at the decommissioning journey. The visit offered valuable insights into decommissioning and highlighted the dedication of our skilled workforces, who play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and successful decommissioning of nuclear power plants.”

The visitors also toured Hinkley School, where they had the chance to meet with NRS apprentices who shared their experiences and highlighted the valuable skills and knowledge they have gained through their work. As part of plans to offer apprentices a broader range of experiences, and to look to the future when Hinkley Point B transfers to NRS, the maintenance and operations engineering technician apprentices at Hinkley Point will share their time across the A and B sites. This small but significant step will afford them a unique opportunity to complete their apprenticeship whilst developing their skills and knowledge working on plant across both sites. Both sites are committed to developing skills for the future.

The group also visited the Intermediate Level Waste Encapsulation Plant (MILWEP) at HPA, which is a facility designed to safely store and manage radioactive waste generated during the decommissioning process, and the interim storage facility (ISF) where radioactive waste is safely stored before being transported to a permanent disposal site.

At HPB the group met EDF Station Director Nicola Fauvel and were then given a site tour, including the chance to look at the site’s two reactors, one of which is being defueled. They heard how Hinkley Point B stopped generating electricity in 2022 after 46 years and how station teams are removing spent fuel from the reactors and preparing for the decommissionig. Decommissioning will involve dismantling and demolition of plant and buildings on the Hinkley Point B site and will be carried out by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS).

Nicola Fauvel said: “Welcoming visitors with such an important part to play in our present and future, is always a pleasure. Hopefully those who came along felt they got an up-close and personal opportunity to see the wonderful work the teams at Hinkley Point B have done historically and are doing today.”