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Press Release

EDF Energy announces seven year life extension to Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B nuclear power stations

EDF Energy
12/05/2012

Announcement made as CEO Vincent de Rivaz opens visitor centre at Hinkley Point B

EDF Energy has announced it will extend the expected operating life of two of its nuclear power stations by seven years.

Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B power stations are now expected to remain operational until at least 2023, generating enough low carbon electricity for around two million homes. The decision follows the five year extensions to Heysham 1 and Hartlepool announced in 2010 and come after extensive reviews of the plants' safety cases and continuing work with the independent nuclear regulator.

EDF Energy expects an average of seven-year life extensions across all its Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor stations and a 20-year extension for Sizewell B, the only Pressurised Water Reactor in the UK. This would increase the amount of CO2 avoided by 340 million tonnes. This is equivalent to removing all the cars from UK roads for nearly five years.

EDF Energy CEO Vincent de Rivaz said: "This decision will provide low carbon energy to keep the lights on in the UK and it will safeguard jobs at the plants, in the UK nuclear industry and its supply chain. It follows a thorough review of safety over the lifetime of each of the plants".

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the European energy market, is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 96.5% of the electricity output is CO2-free. EDF's transmission and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 27.9 million customers in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of € 65.3 billion in 2011, of which 43.1% was achieved outside of France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.
Contacts
Press:
EDF Energy press office: 00 44 (1)452 652233

Analysts and investors
Carine de Boissezon: +33 (1) 40 42 45 53
David Newhouse (US investors): +33 (1) 40 42 32 45
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Subjects: Finance Industry International Subsidiary

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