The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has awarded a 20-year licence renewal for the two commercial nuclear reactor units operating at the North Anna site in Virginia.

There are two Westinghouse-made 948-MW and 944-MW pressurised water reactor units at North Anna. Unit 1 began commercial operation in 1978 followed by Unit 2 in 1980.

North Anna-1 and -2 have already received initial 20-year licence renewals after the expiry of their 40-year design lifetime and could operate until April 2038 and August 2040.

The NRC said the subsequent 20-year licence renewal means the North Anna units can now operate unit April 2058 and August 2060.

Earlier this month, the NRC issued a final environmental impact report for the proposed lifetime extension of the two units.

The regulator said there were no adverse environmental impacts to bar the renewal of North Anna’s operating licences for an additional 20 years.

According to the NRC, with the renewal of the North Anna licences, eight commercial nuclear power reactors have received subsequent renewed licences which authorise operation extensions from 60 to 80 years.

Applications are under review for subsequent licence renewals at seven nuclear stations, the NRC said.

These are for: Point Beach-1 and -2 in Wisconsin; Oconee-1, -2, -3 in South Carolina; St. Lucie-1 and -2 in Florida; Monticello-1 in Minnesota; VC Summer-1 in South Carolina; Browns Ferry-1, -2, -3 in Alabama; Dresden-2 and -3 in Illinois.