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Oldbury nuclear power station turned off | |
(39 minutes later) | |
Oldbury nuclear power station near Bristol has stopped generating electricity after 45 years. | |
Both of the station's reactors were scheduled to be turned off in 2008, but had their operational life extended. | |
Reactor two was turned off in 2011 and reactor one was finally shut down at 11:00 GMT on Wednesday. | |
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Magnox, which owns the site, said continued operation was not economically viable. | |
The switch-off was watched through a video link by many of the station's 500 staff in Oldbury's canteen. | |
"It'll be a sad day but there's plenty of other things to do," said station director Phil Sprauge. | "It'll be a sad day but there's plenty of other things to do," said station director Phil Sprauge. |
'Dignified end' | |
"The plant has had a number of enhancements over the years, however continued generation is largely down to the excellence of the staff that have operated the plant for those 44 years. | |
"This fantastic record is one that all staff both past and present, can rightly be proud. | |
"Today marks a safe and dignified end to the generation of electricity at Oldbury." | |
Since it was first turned on in 1967, Oldbury has generated 137.5 TWh of electricity which is enough to power a million homes for 20 years, the site's owners said. | |
Over the next three years the decommissioning process will begin, with remaining fuel from the station's reactor removed and reprocessed. | Over the next three years the decommissioning process will begin, with remaining fuel from the station's reactor removed and reprocessed. |
After this, other hazardous materials from the site will be removed before many of the station's buildings are demolished. | After this, other hazardous materials from the site will be removed before many of the station's buildings are demolished. |
The main reactor building will not be pulled down until about 2100 when the radioactive levels in the building become safe. | |
Horizon Nuclear Power - a conglomerate formed by E.On and RWE - hopes to build a new power station, next to the existing reactor building, after 2025. | Horizon Nuclear Power - a conglomerate formed by E.On and RWE - hopes to build a new power station, next to the existing reactor building, after 2025. |