British Energy (BE) is in talks with BNFL about the possibility of taking over the running of four of BNFL’s six Magnox plants. The plants are Oldbury, Wylfa, Dungeness and Sizewell A.

The deal would allow BE to run the plants until they are decommissioned at about the end of this decade and to sell the power without taking any of the financial risk. BE would not take on the liabilities of the reactors or the cost of decommissioning them.

The agreement, which is believed to have the backing of the government, is still being negotiated.