Wylfa given an extra nine months to produce energy

Jun 17 2009

WYLFA has been given the green light to keep generating electricity for an extra nine months – fuelling hopes of an even longer extension.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority last week announced that the nuclear power station on Anglesey had been given the approval to keep generating electricity until at least December 2010. The planned end date for the station, which employs 650 staff and around 500 contractors, had been March 2010.

While the news has increased the hopes of a power deal for Anglesey Aluminium, the metals firm said the main issue was still the price of electricity. Unless a deal is reached by September 30 the Holyhead smelter will cease operations, putting 540 jobs in jeopardy.

Wylfa’s site director Greg Evans said: "The decision to extend generation is great news for Wylfa and the local community. There is an excellent prospect that we could continue safely generating electricity at Wylfa beyond 2010."

But an Anglesey Aluminium Metals spokeswoman said: "Even with the extension of power the issue still remains whether we can get the power at a commercially viable price.

"At the moment nothing has changed, our deadline is still September 30."

The Department for Energy and Climate Change gave its approval after work by site contractor Magnox North. Wylfa has generated electricity since 1971 and currently meets more than 40% of Wales’ electricity needs.

MP Albert Owen said: "This is good news for Anglesey and what I have been pushing for. It is important that we now keep up the pressure to extend the operational life further again."

Welsh Assembly deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "I welcome the news that Wylfa has been granted this extension until at least December 2010.

"It is important however that we continue to do everything we can to secure an acceptable energy contract for Anglesey Aluminium in order to safeguard the jobs at Holyhead."

But anti-nuclear campaigner Dylan Morgan, from PAWB, said: "This is not good news for us or the environment. The older the plant becomes the more safety problems there will be."