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Published:
September 26, 2006
Earlier
check-up for Hinkley Point nuclear reactor amid safety concerns
An
inspection of the nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point B power station,
near Burnham-On-Sea, has been brought forward amid reports of
new safety fears.
It follows checks on reactors at Scotland's Hunterston plant,
which showed problems with cracked pipes. British
Energy said it did not believe the position at Hinkley B - which
has identical reactors - was as serious.
However,
the BBC reports that as a prudent measure, the date of the station's
three-yearly statutory inspection has been brought forward.
The
advanced gas-cooled reactors at both Hunterston and Hinkley B
are 30 years old.
The
company said the level of cracking in boiler tubes at the Scottish
plant was "above that expected." Repairs are currently
being made to the defective pipes.
Hinkley
B's two reactors provide 3% of the UK's electricity, but output
has been cut by half, with the closure of one of them for early
inspection.
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