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The Report: Inspecting Britain's Nuclear Power Plants

Inspecting Britain's Nuclear Power Plants

21/04/2011

BBC Radio 4 - The Report, Inspecting Britain's Nuclear Power Plants

Is Britain's nuclear power plant inspection regime up to the job? Andy Denwood Reports.

In the wake of Fukushima, Andy Denwood investigates the recent record of Britain's nuclear safety agency: is the inspectorate - relaunched this month - up to the job?

The stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan missed scheduled safety inspections weeks before the disaster. The Japanese regulation system stands accused of failing to take the risk of an extreme natural disaster seriously enough, and of a lack of openness with the public. 

Britain's own regulatory body which oversees nuclear power plants has just re-launched itself after years of concern that it has been secretive, understaffed and overstretched. 

In recent years the government's Chief Nuclear Inspector says he has struggled to recruit new staff and that the Nuclear Safety Inspectorate faced major challenges to ensure old nuclear plants are run safely. 

As the Office for Nuclear Regulation takes on the challenge of ensuring Britain's nuclear power plants are run safely, Andy Denwood investigates whether it's up to the job. 

Producer Ian Muir-Cochrane.

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