§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy how long the Dungeness A power station has been out of action; what are the faults that have led to its closure; how long it is likely to be before these faults are remedied; and what will be the cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of fuel to make good the loss of generating capacity.
§ Mr. Norman LamontReactor 2 at Dungeness A nuclear power station was shut down in August 1978 for a planned overhaul period which was extended from January to the end of May 1979 for further inspection and repairs. During start-up of the reactor in June a leak of carbon dioxide coolant gas from a manhole cover joint of one of the gas circuits was discovered and the reactor was shut down on 19 June. It is expected that improvements to the manhole cover joint seals will be completed within the next few days and the reactor returned to service. I am advised that the cost to the board of fuel to make good the loss of generating capacity is of the order of £½ million per week.
Reactor 1 started its programmed statutory inspection and overhaul in April this year.