ONE of Somerset’s biggest employers celebrates 40 years of energy production – just as a major maintenance programme gets into full swing.

Hinkley Point B near Bridgwater was the first Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor in the country to begin commercially generating electricity to the National Grid on February 5 1976.

During its 40 years of operation, Hinkley Point B has generated enough electricity to power around 60 million homes. Its two reactors still produce enough electricity for approximately one and a half million properties each year.

By generating electricity from nuclear power instead of fossil fuels, owners EDF say Hinkley Point B has avoided the production of around 187 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and equivalent greenhouse gases.

To mark its milestone birthday every employee will be presented with a photobook charting the station’s history and focusing on the people who have helped to make the station so special. A reception for past Hinkley Point B station directors and staff who were employed by the industry in 1976 will be held at the station today and a commemorative cake has been made for the occasion.

Station director Peter Evans said: “I am extremely proud of everyone who contributes to Team Hinkley and ensures the continued safe operation of our power station.

A thousand extra workers are joining the workforce over the coming weeks as part of a maintenance programme known as an outage which takes place every three years.

The programme of works has been carefully planned over the last two years and brings a welcome economic boost to the local economy.

One of the nuclear reactors has already been taken out of service to enable inspections to take place inside the reactor. New equipment will also be installed at the plant.

Hinkley Point B is scheduled to continue operating until 2023 although it is subject to ongoing review of its safety case by the nuclear safety regulator.