HINKLEY Point B, which was the nation’s first to operate advanced gas cooled reactors (AGR), entered a new phase of its life on Monday (January 12) with confirmation that it was now clear of nuclear fuel.

The station provided so much electricity between 1976 and 2022, it was said to be able to power every home from the tip of Cornwall to the top of Gloucestershire for 33 years.

But, the EDF owned station ceased generating power in August, 2022, and within weeks saw the start of work to remove its nuclear fuel.

The final batch of fuel left the site last November, and on Monday the de-fueling job was officially declared complete by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) which granted ‘Fuel Free Verification’ status.

Station director Des Uminski said: “This is a huge moment for the Hinkley Point B team.

“For our first 46 years we focussed on turning out the megawatts for the nation.

“In 2022, we shifted to turning out the fuel as we emptied our reactors.

“As of today, our focus is on the full, safe decommissioning of the site.

“I want to thank the teams here at Hinkley B who removed the fuel in just over three years.

“We knew this would be a challenge, but, as usual, our staff have risen to it and delivered brilliantly.

“We have had many years to prepare for this moment and the change that it means, but it is still a pivotal point in our site history and for our teams.”

When de-fueling started in September, 2022, Hinkley B had to remove 616 stringers of nuclear fuel from the site.

The fuel was packaged into specially engineered, transportable fuel flasks which were then moved for safe storage by rail by Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) to Sellafield, in Cumbria.

Both Sellafield and NTS are part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, as is Nuclear Restoration Services, which will be responsible for the full decommissioning of the site when it transfers to the NDA later this year.

NDA group chief executive David Peattie said: “This has been a real team effort with strong collaboration displayed throughout between EDF and the NDA group.

“It is a tremendous achievement for everybody involved, in particular the dedicated team at Hinkley Point B, who we look forward to welcoming into our group this year.

“The successful de-fueling of the first two AGR stations demonstrates we have the right capability, affirming the Government’s confidence in us to expand our mission.

“We are proud to utilise our unique expertise and resources, both to keep the nation safe and support the country’s energy security ambitions.”

The NDA is responsible for decommissioning the UK’s 17 earliest nuclear sites, removing the risks and hazards, so that eventually the sites can be released for other uses.

EDF is currently building the UK’s nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C next door to the B station.