The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an Improvement Notice on EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd (EDF Energy) for contravention of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (2000) at Heysham 1 Power Station.
The notice was served after shortfalls were discovered in the examination and inspection of the Reactor 1 pressure vessel at the Lancashire plant.
ONR judges that nuclear safety was not compromised by the breach and there was no risk to workers or the public. EDF Energy has presented an adequate safety case to justify the continued safe operation of the reactor.
Nuclear reactor pressure vessels feature hundreds of sealed penetrations which must be routinely inspected to ensure they are free from defects. From in excess of 600 penetrations in Reactor 1 at Heysham 1, ONR found that EDF Energy had failed to examine 11 penetrations within the intervals specified in the written maintenance scheme.
EDF Energy must comply with the Improvement Notice and complete the 11 overdue examinations by 18 December, 2020.