Positive international review for Torness power station

A group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have given Torness power station a positive review after a visit to the site.

The report by the independent Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) has been published following a visit to the East Lothian site in September 2019. This followed an initial three-week review in January 2018. During the first visit, they highlighted eight good practices that could be replicated globally and made some recommendations for further improvements. On their return, the team found that there had been progress in all these areas, with most of the suggestions judged to be fully resolved.

OSART missions allow a thorough review of operational safety at nuclear power stations and promote the continuous development of the industry by ensuring IAEA safety standards are met and good practices shared across the world.  

Robert Gunn, Torness station director said: “We are always working to drive forward improvements at our stations and we know that regular in-depth reviews from international experts add great value to our own internal checks and our work with the regulator, the ONR.

“We were pleased when the review team judged that we had eight areas of good practice and put a plan in place to act on recommendations for improvements in other areas. The final OSART peer review clearly acknowledges great progress with all areas either fully resolved or showing satisfactory progress. 

“This was a very important visit, not only for Torness, but also as representatives of the wider UK nuclear industry and I’m glad that the team left with such a positive impression.”

You can read the OSART follow-up report here.