The UK’s nuclear power is generated primarily by seven advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) stations, owned by EDF Energy.
The AGRs are scheduled to stop generating electricity during this decade, at which point fuel will be removed and transferred to Sellafield for safe storage. The AGRs will then be transferred to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The cost of defueling and decommissioning AGRs will be met from the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, and the government will guarantee any funding shortfall. In June 2021, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy announced revised commercial and delivery arrangements for the defueling and decommissioning process.
The Committee will question senior officials at BEIS and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on:
- the estimated cost of decommissioning AGRs and the funding available to do so;
- the revised agreements covering the defueling and decommissioning of AGRs; and
- progress with planning for defueling and decommissioning the stations, and risks to value for money.
If you have evidence on these questions please submit it here by Monday 31 January 2022 18:00.