The nuclear operator issued a statement refuting reports from the BBC that the plant’s life extension plans could be threatened by the discovery of the keyway root cracks, saying the small faults will not affect the operations of the plant.
“We found two bricks with a new crack which is what we predicted during Hunterston B’s lifetime as a result of extensive research and modelling. It will not affect the operation of this reactor and we also expect that a few additional cracks will occur during the next period of operation,” a statement from the operator said.
An EDF spokeswoman told Utility Week the cracks impact just 0.1 per cent of the graphite core, which is well within the regulatory limit of 10 per cent.
The cracks were found as part of the plant’s planned statutory maintenance period which began in early August. The plant has now returned to service and is in the process of resynchronising with the grid, the spokeswoman said.
The plant is expected to run until 2023, after receiving a life extension from 2016 in late 2012.