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EDF agrees nuclear life extension deal with Doosan Babcock

A £70 million-a-year deal has been agreed between EDF Energy and construction firm Doosan Babcock for lifetime extension services to seven nuclear power stations.

The deal will the UK engineering firm provide operational support and projects to support life extensions to all seven of EDF Energy’s Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors (AGRs).

The agreement will create 1,000 jobs and will come to an end when the last of Dungeness B, Hinkley Point B, Hunterston B, Hartlepool, Heysham 1, Heysham 2, and Torness power stations cease generation.

In its results last week, EDF stated that it expects to be able to extend the life of the Dungeness B nuclear power station by ten years to 2028 with a decision expected this year.

This follows the life extensions that were granted to Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B at the end of 2012, which will see both plants remain operational until at least 2023.

Hartlepool and Heysham 1, which are both currently scheduled to close in 2019, are next in line for life extensions, with a decision expected in 2016.

Heysham 2 and Torness have not yet been awarded a life extension, but they are not scheduled to close until at least 2023 but are likely to be given extensions.