Bassetlaw's West Burton A power station set to close in 2022

Bassetlaw’s West Burton A – one of Britain's two remaining coal-fired power stations – is set to close.
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EDF announced today (Wednesday, March 24) that the power station, near Retford, would be decommissioned from September 2022.

West Burton A opened in 1966 and is capable of generating enough electricity for approximately 3.7 million homes.

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At its peak it employed 750 people, with around 170 still working there.

West Burton A Power Station near Retford.West Burton A Power Station near Retford.
West Burton A Power Station near Retford.

It comes after the Government said it would aim to close all of Britain's unabated coal-fired power stations by October 2025, in a bid to tackle climate change.

Bassetlaw District Council has also nominated West Burton A, along with Cottam power station, as a potential for the world's first prototype fusion plant.

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EDF’s managing director for the generation business, Matt Sykes, said: “West Burton A and its loyal workforce have played a critical role providing power to the UK for 55 years, including during this recent winter.

"Since 1966, the station has produced enough electricity to meet the needs of all UK households for more than four years, a truly incredible achievement.

“With EDF’s power generation strategy firmly focused on nuclear and renewables - and in this key year for UK leadership on climate change - we now believe it is the right time to provide clarity to our employees and all those connected to the site.”

The closure will leave only Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, also in Nottinghamshire, still generating coal-fired electricity in the UK.

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