Future of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 12 Jan 2022 Closed: 2 Sep 2022 Parliament page
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 … Read more
10 Recommendations
21 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
2 Sep
2022
Report published
20 May
2022
Report published
28 Feb
2022
Correspondence
7 Feb
2022
Oral evidence
7 Feb
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
7 Feb 2022
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Future of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors
David Peattie · Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Jerry Haller · EDF Energy Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Umran Nazir · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - The future of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors HC 118 20 May 2022 31 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - The future of the A…
EDFE’s timetable for the closure of the stations will result in a significant reduction in...
EDFE’s timetable for the closure of the stations will result in a significant reduction in the UK’s generating capacity until new capacity comes online. In 2020, nuclear power accounted for 16% of UK electricity generation. The closure of seven nuclear … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with the recommendation as drafted, stating that extensions of station lifespans are a matter for EDF and the relevant regulator (ONR). They will ask EDF to set out their plans for how they will work with the regulator to see if extensions are possible and will aim to provide further detail to the Committee by the end of 2022.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - The future of the A…
There are still some important aspects of transfer that are yet to be agreed.
There are still some important aspects of transfer that are yet to be agreed. The NDA and EDFE recognise there are issues around transfer that will need to be agreed but believe they have sufficient time to sort out the … Read more
Government Response
The department agrees with the recommendation to provide a detailed plan and timetable for the transfers, with a target implementation date of May 2023, and proposes sharing the Hunterston B plan with the Committee.
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - The future of the A…
The Department’s business case estimates that the transfer of the stations will cost £300 million,...
The Department’s business case estimates that the transfer of the stations will cost £300 million, but given the uncertainties the cost and liabilities could be as large as £1.8 billion. The uncertainties include a potential need to update IT systems, … Read more
Government Response
The department agrees with the recommendation to provide a detailed plan and timetable for the transfers, with a target implementation date of May 2023, and proposes sharing the Hunterston B plan with the Committee.
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - The future of the A…
We were concerned by the number of issues still to be resolved in the time...
We were concerned by the number of issues still to be resolved in the time available. We enquired about progress regarding Hunterston B, the first station expected to transfer, especially as discussions around pension contributions can take time to sort … Read more
Government Response
The department requests a revised implementation date of May 2023 for the delivery of detailed transfer plans for AGR stations, starting with Hunterston B, and proposes sharing the Hunterston B plan with the Committee when completed, along with a summary of progress for the remaining stations.
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - The future of the A…
We wrote to the Department and HM Treasury number of times (see Annex 1) after...
We wrote to the Department and HM Treasury number of times (see Annex 1) after our evidence session and asked it to clarify what it had agreed with EDFE in terms of the land and buildings that will be transferred … Read more
Government Response
The department requests a revised implementation date of May 2023 for the delivery of detailed transfer plans for AGR stations, starting with Hunterston B, and proposes sharing the Hunterston B plan with the Committee when completed, along with a summary of progress for the remaining stations.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 10 classified
Accepted 13
Acknowledged 7
Deferred 5
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 2
Total 10 recs + 21 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
28 Feb 2022 Correspondence from Sarah Munby Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, re PAC hearing on “Future of the Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors”, dated 21 February 2022
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