Centrica confirms life extensions of two UK nuclear stations until 2028

(Reuters) -British Gas owner Centrica said on Tuesday the life of two nuclear power stations in the UK, in which it has a 20% share, has been extended until 2028.

Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations, which are operated by French state-owned utility EDF, are now expected to generate electricity until March 2028, Centrica said.

Britain aims to decarbonise its electricity sector by 2030 and reduce its reliance on natural gas power plants, which currently provide around a third of its power.

The country has also been seeking to build new nuclear plants to replace its ageing fleet to boost energy security and also reach its climate targets.

Centrica expects the total life extensions announced since December 2024 to add about 12 terawatt-hour (TWh ) to its electricity generation volumes between 2026 and 2030.

However, there is no change to the expected March 2030 closure of the Heysham 2 and Torness nuclear plants.

In July, Centrica acquired a 15% stake in the proposed Sizewell C nuclear plant in eastern England, joining investors including EDF and Canadian pension fund La Caisse and the UK government.

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy)