Hunterston B: Nuclear plant closes in Ayrshire after 46 years of generating power

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An Ayrshire nuclear plant has been retired this afternoon.Reactor 4 at Hunterston B came offline for the final time at noon today after 46 years of generating power.Over the next three years the plant will defuel and in that time around a quarter of the 480-strong workforce will go.The future of the site remains uncertain with efforts underway to create "green jobs".The reactor was powered down by station director Paul Forrest.EDF Energy, who own the site, will start a three-year process of defueling before handing over to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane spoke about the impact this will have on the community.He said: "At noon today the last operating unit at Hunterston B, Reactor 4, will shut down for the final time."Originally planned to operate for 25 years, Hunterston B station has generated power for 46 years."People hold varied views on nuclear power.

What no one disputes is that Hunterston’s nuclear power stations have provided employment for thousands over the years of their operation."When Reactor 4 shuts down today the plant will enter a three year defueling phase.

Over that period the 480 workforce will be reduced by a quarter."There will be a further economic impact on supply chains."Following the defueling phase, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will take over the station."All of this makes it even more important that Hunterston is given the national development status that it deserves."Hunterston is a site of economic importance not just to the North Ayrshire economy but to the Scottish economy.

Across the Hunterston estate and Hunterston PARC (owned by Peel Ports) we have a site with all the physical infrastructure needed for the transition to a green