US-based nuclear energy operator Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, has announced the restart of production at unit 2 of its Joseph M. Farley nuclear plant in Dothan, Alabama, US, following a planned refueling and maintenance outage.
The unit was shut down on 14 April to carry out the scheduled outage. Unit 2 had completed 515 days of continuous operation since its last refueling outage in 2011.
Farley nuclear station has two unit, which require new fuel every 18 months. The company also performed regular maintenance and testing to upgrade the plant systems and components.
Southern Nuclear site vice president Tom Lynch said the outage was completed safely. “The unit is positioned not just for the next 18 months – but for years of continued safe and reliable electricity production,” Lynch added.
Unit 1 at the Farley nuclear station continued electricity generation during the unit 2 outage.