A DIRECTOR has been appointed to run the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station once it becomes operational - currently scheduled to be some time in 2029.

Nicola Fauvel is a former station director of neighbouring Hinkley Point B, which is now being decommissioned.

She will return to West Somerset next year to lead Hinkley C through commissioning and into operation.

Ms Fauvel, who was only the second woman to run a British nuclear power station, led the Hinkley B team which defueled it in preparation for handover to the Government organisation responsible for decommissioning.

She describes herself as ‘almost genetically programmed to be an engineer’, and has worked in the civil nuclear industry for 26 years.

Ms Fauvel said: “I have loved leading the team at Hinkley B as custodians of the site as there is such a proud heritage and real sense of community.

“I am now excited and humbled to be taking on the challenge of preparing Hinkley C for generation.

“Building the right operational organisation is just as crucial as the fantastic engineering feats being achieved daily by the construction team.”

Ms Fauvel has held a number of technical, leadership, and project manager roles, as well as 13 years as part of the Hinkley C project.

Her nuclear career began at Torness power station, in Scotland, and she has also worked for EDF in Paris on reactor design and at Flamanville, in Normandy, where a sister EPR power station is now generating electricity.

Hinkley C chief executive Stuart Crooks said: “Nicola’s leadership and experience on operating stations, as well as her previous experience of new nuclear projects, will be invaluable as we accelerate our commissioning phase.

“Taking up the role now enables Nicola to build knowledge and evolve from pre-operations to an operational organisation that will be capable of generating into the next century.”