The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has moved Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station into significantly-enhanced regulatory attention. The decision was taken based on evidence gained from targeted engagements at the EDF-operated site that identified areas where safety improvements are required.
The significantly-enhanced regulatory attention level reflects the effort ONR is currently applying to influence improvements in areas including conventional health and safety, the number of site incidents and in the delivery of agreed performance improvements.
Hartlepool remains safe to operate and ONR’s ongoing inspections and assessments continue to support this view. However, the increased level of regulatory attention indicates the additional effort required for ONR to gain such confidence.
“When required, we place sites into significantly-enhanced attention to achieve improved performance in specific areas. This is a key part of our role as an independent regulator,” said Dan Hasted, ONR’s Director of Regulation for Operating Facilities. “EDF is committed to delivering a range of improvements at Hartlepool, and we are overseeing this. Through our enabling regulatory approach, we are working constructively with the licensee to ensure all these issues are addressed.”
Regulatory attention levels are set by ONR based on an assessment of overall performance. This considers a broad range of safety and operational factors, reflecting judgements across nuclear safety, nuclear site health and safety and, where applicable, civil nuclear security.
In January, ONR issued an improvement notice to EDF following an incident at Hartlepool NPP when two employees came into contact with pressurised hydraulic oil. Two EDF technicians were carrying out maintenance work when a joint on a system was disconnected that contained hydraulic oil under pressure which was then released. Both employees attended hospital as a precautionary measure. There was no risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment.
According to Mike Webb, ONR’s Joint Head of Safety Regulation for the Operating Reactors Sub-directorate, enquiries found that EDF “had failed to provide their employees with the required information to allow them to carry out their work safely”.
The Hartlepool site has two advanced gas-cooled reactors which started generating electricity in 1983. Hartlepool power station was due to move into defueling in March 2027 based on a review in December 2024. However, EDF subsequently communicated their decision to extend the generating lifetime of the station to March 2028, subject to an adequate demonstration of safety.
