Slaughter and May advised EDF Energy on its arrangements with the UK government in relation to the defueling and decommissioning of the UK’s fleet of AGR nuclear power stations

Slaughter and May advised EDF Energy on the entry into revised arrangements with the UK government and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to deliver the safe and efficient decommissioning of the UK’s seven advanced gas cooled reactor (AGR) power stations.

The UK’s AGR power stations are scheduled to reach the end of their working lives on a rolling basis by 2030. The new arrangements will see EDF Energy and the NDA working together to ensure the successful defueling of the AGR power stations and a seamless transfer of ownership of the stations to the NDA. The combined expertise of EDF Energy and the NDA in defueling and decommissioning will ensure the long-term clean-up of the sites is completed safely and efficiently while delivering savings of an estimated £1 billion for the UK taxpayer.

Slaughter and May worked in collaboration with EDF Energy’s in-house legal team, led by Rose Manassei.