Sizewell B nuclear plant extension possible but investment needed, EDF Energy says

By Nina Chestney

LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - EDF's EDF.PA British arm said a life extension for its Sizewell B nuclear plant is technically possible but negotiations are ongoing with the UK government to enable the required investment.

Sizewell B nuclear plant on the North Sea coast in Suffolk supplies nearly 1.2 gigawatts of electricity to the grid and is the only pressurised-water reactor in the UK.

The country's other nuclear power stations are advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR), many of which are nearing the end of their life or have been retired. Four remain in service.

A few of the AGRs have had their life extended for a few more years amid concerns that Britain faces a looming supply gap due to the age of its nuclear facilities. Nuclear power stations generate around 12% of Britain’s electricity.

EDF and Centrica, which owns a 20% stake in the nuclear plants, want their remaining AGRs to operate at least until 2030. Investment to support that would cost 1.2 billion pounds ($1.61 billion) over the next three years, EDF said.

"Work continues to agree a commercial model that is required to support a 20-year Sizewell B life extension (2035-2055) and unlock 800 million pounds of investment in the station," EDF Energy said in a statement.

The UK government's energy department was not immediately available for comment.

EDF began construction on Hinkley Point C in southwest England in 2017, its first new plant in Britain in more than 20 years. It is also in the early stages of building Sizewell C.

($1 = 0.7442 pounds)