370 cracks in the graphite cores but EDF wants to restart its Scottish reactors

Residents living near one of Scotland’s two remaining operating nuclear power stations have been alarmed by proposals to re-start two reactors closed since March and October last year, both of which are showing a growing number of cracks in their graphite cores. 

The reactors — at Hunterston B nuclear power station in Ayrshire, Scotland, about 35 miles from Glasgow — were shut down last year so the cracks could be inspected. But in November 2018, the investigative news site, The Ferret, revealed that more than 350 cracks had been discovered. The cracking issue has been known about since at least 2006 when cracks in the graphite bricks started to appear as a result of neutron bombardment during fission over many years.

As Pete Roche writes, above, alarm bells should be ringing. Yet EDF, which owns and operates Hunterston B, expects to reopen the two reactors, one at the end of March, and the other in early April. But these cracks cannot be repaired and calls are growing to shut the plant permanently. Read the full article.