§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) on what date the Magnox nuclear power station at Berkeley was last refuelled; and what was the tonnage of fuel loaded at this time;
(2) what is the frequency of refuelling for the United Kingdom's civil Magnox reactors are under the management of the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerUnless there are difficulties with the refuelling equipment all CEGB Magnox reactors are refuelled continuously on load on a channel-by-channel basis. Fuel is discharged from a reactor when it has reached full burn-up. Because it had to be shut down for refuelling following problems with its fuel handling equipment, Berkeley power station is refuelled on a batch basis. Refuelling (of reactor 1) last took place between 4 April and 17 July 1988 and was at the minimum level required to avoid excessive power loss during its remaining planned period of operation. Reactor 2 was shut down on 27 October 1988.