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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nuclear plant given new lifeline | Nuclear plant given new lifeline |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The lifetime of Hunterston B nuclear power station has been extended by five years, it has been announced. | The lifetime of Hunterston B nuclear power station has been extended by five years, it has been announced. |
| British Energy said the site in North Ayrshire would continue operating until at least 2016. | British Energy said the site in North Ayrshire would continue operating until at least 2016. |
| Technical and economic evaluations were carried out to ensure the plant was viable over the next few years. | Technical and economic evaluations were carried out to ensure the plant was viable over the next few years. |
| British Energy said the operation of Hinkley Point B, near Bridgwater, Somerset, was also being extended over the next five years. | |
| Hunterston employs about 520 full-time staff and 150 staff from contract partners. It brings in an estimated £55m a year to the local economy. | |
| It also shows that British Energy recognises the professionalism and commitment of our staff in safely supplying low carbon electricity for more than 30 years Tom UngiHunterston B director | It also shows that British Energy recognises the professionalism and commitment of our staff in safely supplying low carbon electricity for more than 30 years Tom UngiHunterston B director |
| Tom Ungi, station director, said: "This is great news for all of us at Hunterston B and for everyone in the local North Ayrshire community. | Tom Ungi, station director, said: "This is great news for all of us at Hunterston B and for everyone in the local North Ayrshire community. |
| "The decision means we can continue to provide highly-skilled jobs and bring major investment to the area. | "The decision means we can continue to provide highly-skilled jobs and bring major investment to the area. |
| "It also shows that British Energy recognises the professionalism and commitment of our staff in safely supplying low carbon electricity for more than 30 years." | "It also shows that British Energy recognises the professionalism and commitment of our staff in safely supplying low carbon electricity for more than 30 years." |
| Carbon emissions | Carbon emissions |
| Hunterston B generates sufficient electricity to supply almost half the households in Scotland. | Hunterston B generates sufficient electricity to supply almost half the households in Scotland. |
| British Energy said that during its working life the station had saved about 140 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. | British Energy said that during its working life the station had saved about 140 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. |
| This is equivalent to the entire population of Edinburgh reducing its carbon emissions to almost zero. | This is equivalent to the entire population of Edinburgh reducing its carbon emissions to almost zero. |
| Tourism and Enterprise Minister Jim Mather, said: "The present government is not opposed to existing nuclear power until the end of its natural life but Scotland doesn't need or want new nuclear power stations. | Tourism and Enterprise Minister Jim Mather, said: "The present government is not opposed to existing nuclear power until the end of its natural life but Scotland doesn't need or want new nuclear power stations. |
| 'Major bonus' | 'Major bonus' |
| "The fact here is that this decision would mean that the company would have to invest significantly more at Hunterston to ensure it remains safe and reliable. | "The fact here is that this decision would mean that the company would have to invest significantly more at Hunterston to ensure it remains safe and reliable. |
| "That has to be in Scotland's interest." | "That has to be in Scotland's interest." |
| Amicus representative Stuart McGhie said staff were delighted with the news. | Amicus representative Stuart McGhie said staff were delighted with the news. |
| "This life extension is a major bonus for the station," he said. | "This life extension is a major bonus for the station," he said. |
| "It's the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by everyone involved, both on and off site, to secure a further five years of safe, reliable generation - an achievement of which we are all very proud." | "It's the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by everyone involved, both on and off site, to secure a further five years of safe, reliable generation - an achievement of which we are all very proud." |