According to the energy company, the unit had been out of service for an extended period of time and a return to service program would be followed over the coming days.
Following completion of the engineering modification work and upon receipt of the regulatory clearance, the company expects to return the other reactor at Hartlepool power station and the two reactors at Heysham-1 power station to service in a phased process over the coming weeks.
Earlier the company said that regulatory approval to commence installation of the circumferential bands was received on 21 August 2008. However, installation of the circumferential bands on the lead Reactor (Heysham 1 Reactor 1) had taken longer than originally planned. The work included the replacement of a generator stator and main generator transformer at Hartlepool and replacement of some 3km of cast iron cooling water pipe work at both stations. In addition some minor projects aimed at reliability from the stations have been undertaken.Â
