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Heysham: Bid to extend life for nuclear power stations

EDF handout Heysham 1 power stationEDF handout
Heysham 1 is due to stay open until 2026 following a previous extension last year

Energy firm EDF has revealed an ambition to extend the lives of its two nuclear power stations in Lancashire even longer.

Last year the company extended the life of Heysham 1 by two years meaning it would be open until 2026, while Heysham 2 is currently due to open until 2028.

EDF said it will conduct inspections and reviews before making a decision on any futher extensions this year.

Any extensions would be subject to regulatory approval.

The announcement is in the firm's annual report due to be published later.

EDF Heysham 2 power stationEDF
About 1,400 people work at the Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 sites

About 1,400 people work at the two sites in Heysham.

Heysham is the only site in the UK to have two operating nuclear power stations.

Heysham 1 began operating in 1983. It has two advanced gas cooled reactors, which were originally scheduled for closure in 2014.

The second plant started generating in 1988 and, like Heysham 1, it has two advanced gas cooled reactors.

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