Ageing UK nuclear plants to run longer: operators

London: Two British nuclear power plants nearing the end of their lifespan will run for an extra year, its operators announced Tuesday, helping with U...

London: Two British nuclear power plants nearing the end of their lifespan will run for an extra year, its operators announced Tuesday, helping with UK energy security and net zero targets.

The Heysham 1 plant in northwest England and the Hartlepool facility in the northeast will continue generating energy until March 2028, an increase of one year, main operator EDF said in a statement.

The French company's announcement was confirmed by its British partner Centrica following "positive inspections".

"A further year of operation for these two stations has the potential to power more than four million homes," said Mark Hartley, managing director of EDF's nuclear operations.

"It secures employment ... for more than 1,000 people who work at those sites, and it supports the UK's ambitions to have a clean, secure electricity supply," he added.