CONCERNS have been raised about the risk of electricity black-outs in Northern Ireland after cracks were discovered at a Scottish nuclear power station.
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs called for the retention of Kilroot Power Station in Larne to safeguard supplies after 39 cracks in graphite bricks were discovered on a reactor at the Hunterston B plant on the Ayrshire coast.
Electricity output from the station could fall by 40 per cent this year, with the damaged reactor not expected to return to service for several months.
Mr Beggs claimed the reduced output could have implications for availability of power for the Moyle Interconnector during peak winter demand.
"The current model used by SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland) assumes that a minimum of 225MW of electricity would be transmitted under the Irish Sea along the Moyle Interconnector cables," he said.
"Any such changes to SONI’s electricity availability assumptions would add further risks of black-outs in Northern Ireland following the end of electricity generation from Kilroot’s main turbines."
He added: "Once generating capacity is lost from the main turbines at Kilroot, it will be very difficult and may prove too expensive to bring them back into service."
The closure of the Carrickfergus plant was announced in January after American owners AES failed to win a contract in an auction process aimed at increasing competition in the new all-Ireland Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM).
AES had said the power station would shut down in May at the cost of 270 jobs, but weeks ago it emerged the move had been delayed until October due to IT problems.
