Dungeness power station enjoyed a high-powered visit from its new owner.

The future of nuclear power on the site depends on the Government and the plans of new owners EDF Energy.

Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy visited British Energy’s Dungeness B power station to meet some of the 550 staff based there and to talk about the future of the combined company.

The visit came following the completion of the acquisition of British Energy by EDF in January this year. A new executive team for the enlarged business was also announced shortly after, bringing together management expertise from different parts of EDF group in France, Germany and British Energy in the UK.

During Wednesday’s visit Mr de Rivaz discussed a variety of issues with staff, including the strong potential of the site for new nuclear build, as he toured the plant with Dungeness’s station director, Alan Oulton and the plant manager, Graham Finn.

Mr de Rivaz said: “Dungeness has a lot of potential as a site for new nuclear build. The geography is appropriate, it has the necessary infrastructure and a strong skills base, as well as very vocal support from the local community. The potential economic benefits from new nuclear build for Kent and the UK are clearly understood by people here.”

He was shown the site for the possible new power station, which the company intends to nominate to the Government’s Strategic Siting Assessment in March. As part of the acquisition of British Energy, EDF Energy will sell the land it owns for new power station at either Dungeness or Heysham, in Lancashire, to another credible nuclear operator.

However, British Energy has already held a series of consultation meetings in and around Romney Marsh in January. During these events 376 people attended to hear proposals for possible reactor development on the site to the west of the existing power stations.

Mr Oulton added: “We received a very positive response to the six meetings and there was strong evidence of local support for new build.”