EDF says it is not planning to extend the life of its West Burton A coal fired power station in Nottinghamshire, which will close at the end of this month.
The Government had spoken to the French energy giant about keeping the plant on standby through next winter in case of the fuel emergency caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified.
However EDF said the site – between Lincoln and Doncaster – “will close as planned” at the end of this month.
On Wednesday revealed that the National Grid was asked by the Government to negotiate with EDF and others to keep obsolete coal plants on standby for another winter.
The sites – run by EDF and Drax – were meant to have been decommissioned last year, but because of the energy crisis the Government asked them to be ready for any emergencies.
Despite being ready, EDF’s plant was only called on once through the winter, switching on for a few hours on March 7.
EDF said: “The two remaining units at West Burton A coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire will close as planned on March 31, 2023, in line with the agreement signed last year.
“There are a number of workforce and operational reasons that mean extending the life of West Burton A again is very challenging.
“For example, retaining suitably qualified and local personnel to ensure safe operation was a major challenge last year and, looking forward, becomes untenable as many of the workforce have stayed on well beyond planned retirement dates already.
“Approximately half the staff are retiring by the second quarter of this year. Notices have already been given for around half of these and they leave early April. This includes a large part of the station leadership team.”
The Department for Energy Security told the PA news agency: “Ultimately, the decision will be a commercial one for the coal generators and ESO will update the market in due course.”
Last year the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy picked West Burton to host the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s pioneering prototype fusion power station, which is due for completion in 2040.
