i-Nuclear update: EDF Energy says small cracks in Heysham 1 superheater header can be safely managed

i-NUCLEAR

EDF Energy says small cracks in Heysham 1 superheater header can be safely managed by I-Nuclear “Very small cracks” have been found in the header of the superheater at EDF Energy’s Heysham 1, Reactor 2 -- a 28-year-old advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) currently in a maintenance outage. EDF and regulatory authorities say the cracks have been discovered sufficiently early and are not a threat to safe operation of the plant. Nor do the cracks appear to be a threat to EDF plans to extend the operating life of Heysham station by seven years from 2014 to 2021. EDF said through a spokesman May 10 that at current growth rates, the reactor could operate safely with the cracks for more than 30 years.

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