These notes were taken from programmes this week shown on both BBC and ITV, about the question of the safety of Oldbury Power Station.

• Oldbury is an aged Magnox Reactor “well past its sell by date”.
• BNFL recognize that Oldbury is having to run some 15yrs longer than intended.
• 30 years is a safe life for such a Magnox Reactor and 35 yrs at the very outside as a maximum safety time scale.
• It is a very sensible contention of Jim Duffy that Oldbury Power Station should be de-commissioned now on safety grounds but it is licenced to operate until 2008.
• Apparently the graphite core has deteriorated alarmingly and continues to do so, indeed 35% graphite deterioration renders the power station as unsafe and condemned for future operations.
• I think one of the reactors has been shut down meanwhile.
• We do rely on nuclear and coal for our source of electricity as only 3% of electricity is generated by wind or other “user friendly “power.

Charles Pfeil

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