After over 40 years of safe operation, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the Wylfa 2 nuclear power plant will shut down on April 30.

Since it opened in 1971, NDA said Wylfa has generated over 200TWh of electricity. NDA said the decision to close Unit 2 was taken because limited fuel stocks do not allow for the continued operation of both reactors at Wylfa. The two units at Wylfa have generate about 980 MW. Wylfa 2 received its final delivery of Magnox fuel in December 2011.

Efforts will now focus on optimizing generation on Unit 1, which is allowed to operate until 2014. A decision by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on the transfer of partially used fuel from Reactor 2 to Reactor 1 is expected in the summer.

Wylfa, which is operated by Magnox Ltd., a company owned by EnergySolutions, is the only Magnox site still generating electricity, following the closure of Oldbury Power Station on February 29, 2012.

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