Lloyd's Register Group: Leading edge practice success for British Energy

May 18, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- BGYNY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- UK government policy is encouraging a low carbon economy where nuclear energy along with other low carbon energy sources such as renewables, have a critical role to play in providing a balanced energy mix for the UK's energy needs. The recent acquisition of British Energy by EDF provides a strong commitment to the nuclear new build program, and a need to demonstrate to stakeholders and the wider community, that current and planned nuclear assets are managed safely and appropriately.

In a process lasting two years, British Energy benchmarked its business against the BSI Publicly Available Specification 55 (PAS 55-1:2008) for asset management, a specification recognised for leading edge practice in managing physical assets. Applying this specification at all of its nuclear power stations, British Energy is the first nuclear operator to successfully achieve this certification, an approach that has helped manage the return to service of its reactors at Hartlepool and Heysham.

The BSI Publicly Available Specification 55 (PAS 55-1:2008), provided through Lloyd's Register EMEA, has rapidly gained the attention of major energy companies which see asset management excellence as an essential part of their business strategy and a tool to drive sustained business performance improvements. Continuing economic pressures in the energy industry, combined with growing accountability for safety and the environment, mean that energy companies are looking for more sophisticated methods of managing high-risk assets and ways to reduce risks of failure.

Iain Light, Lloyd's Register's Energy Business Director, presented the PAS 55-1 certificate to Bill Coley, CEO of British Energy, part of EDF Energy, and Val Kohler, Head of Asset Planning, Risk and Investment at British Energy at a ceremony in London on May 14, 2009. Recognising British Energy's achievements, Iain Light commented, "Naturally we are delighted British Energy chose Lloyd's Register for this project. It shows how serious British Energy is taking its responsibilities, seeking third party technical assurance to provide confidence its assets can be operated safely and effectively." Light continued, "The interests of the community and of the environment have been at the heart of the Lloyd's Register business since its inception 250 years ago. We want to further our provision of asset management and safety assurance to operators in the energy industry to ensure they benefit from the critical experience we have gained over many years."

The PAS 55 approach challenged British Energy to meet stringent assessments. Bill Coley, Chief Executive of British Energy said, "As part of EDF Energy, we are one of the UK's largest power companies. Engagement in this project was beneficial in supporting our continuous quest for safety and operational excellence." Coley went on to say, "As a nuclear generator, safety is always our first priority and the product we deliver, low-carbon electricity, is important to the people and the economy of the UK. This award is an important recognition of our ability to achieve those objectives through outstanding human performance and by optimizing our investment and resources."

In-depth analysis led to a series of reviews to judge how robust its management processes are for capital investments, operations, maintenance, resourcing, risk, performance and sustainability, including optimising life-operating costs without compromising safety or performance. British Energy's certification to this world-class asset management approach, reinforces the Lloyd's Register Group as a world leader in PAS 55 certification throughout the energy supply chain.

Notes to editors

About Lloyd's Register

1. Lloyd's Register provides independent assurance to companies operating high-risk capital intensive assets in energy and transportation to enhance the safety of life, property and the environment, thereby helping our clients ensure safe, responsible and sustainable supply chains. The Group comprises charities and non-charitable companies, with the latter supporting the charities in their main goal.

2. The Lloyd's Register Group, has an impressive track record in verification and related activities to major hazard industries. The PAS 55-1 certificate was awarded to British Energy by Lloyd's Register EMEA, a member of Lloyd's Register Group.

3. The Lloyd's Register Group used its worldwide experience of management systems and asset management expertise in a variety of industries to support the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) in the development of PAS 55. Published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), PAS 55 is a leading management systems framework upon which effective asset management strategies can be based. It was developed as a quality benchmark for management practices in asset-intensive industries such as power, oil and gas and transportation.

About British Energy

1. The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK's largest energy companies. The combined business represents the UK's largest producer of electricity. With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, the organisation produces almost one-quarter of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms.

2. EDF and British Energy provide power to a quarter of the UK's population via its electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. Through its 'Climate and Social Commitments' the organisation has launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company.

3. The company is a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country's first major new railway in 100 years. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe's largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

CONTACT: Lloyd's Register Tel: +44 (0)20 7709 9166 Fax: +44 (0)20 7488 4796 e-mail: news@lr.org WWW: http://www.lr.org Jason Knights, Global Communications Manager, Lloyd's Register Energy Tel: +44 (0)20 7423 1741 Tel: +44 (0)78 2728 2569 e-mail: jason.knights@lr.org Sue Fletcher, Corporate Media Relations Manager, British Energy Tel: +44 (0)13 5584 6282 Tel: +44 (0)77 3672 7964 e-mail: sue.fletcher@british-energy.com

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