Problems force shutdown of Wylfa nuclear power plant in Wales

Problems found during refuelling in Reactor 1 of Wylfa Nuclear Power Station (Welsh: Atomfa'r Wylfa) in Anglesey (Ynys Môn), North Wales has forced the plant to shut down. As reported today (10 March 2015) in the Welsh newspaper the Daily Post a Magnox spokeswoman said: "After preliminary investigations it is now expected that Reactor 1 will be offline for approximately four weeks. Further investigations are taking place today which will establish the full scope of works that will need to be carried out."

Despite the company statements that this problem at Wylfa does not pose a concern to public safety it has again set alarm bells ringing. Wylfa is now the last operating Magnox reactor in the world and was was originally scheduled to end generation in 2010. Now it is due to continue generating until December 2015 when it will enter the de-fuelling stage. Horizon Nuclear Power want to build a new nuclear power station Wylfa Newydd next to the existing plant.

All of this comes on top of recent problems in other nuclear power stations which pose a threat to the Celtic nations such as those at Heysham, in the northwest of on England and on the Irish Sea coastline which forced the reactor to be taken offline. Last year in Scotland cracks were found in one of the reactors at Hunterston B nuclear power station in North Ayrshire. Although at the time Plant operator, EDF Energy, said the cracking was predicted to occur as the station aged and it would not affect the safe operation of the reactor. The Deputy First Minister at the time (now First Minister) Nicola Sturgeon said the issue was "hugely concerning" to the public and that the Scottish government was seeking reassurances. Scotland's present Scottish National Party government has a 'no new nuclear power strategy'. This is in opposition to the United Kingdom government policy of building more such stations.

The Celtic nations need to step up their opposition to the new nuclear power plant policy of the United Kingdom government. Such as the plans to build two new reactors at Hinkley Point on the northern Somerset coast next to the existing Hinkley Point A station, which is being decommissioned, and Hinkley Point B station, which is operational. These plants are just 150 miles from Ireland and pose dangers to Cornwall and Wales. At the same time the threat posed by old stations yet to be decommissioned grows. It is also time for the Irish and Manx governments to be more determined in their opposition to the United Kingdom nuclear stations that cause a direct threat to them and to stop the ‘lets turn a blind eye’ approach that they now adopt.