The US Nuclear regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a 20-year life extension for the 2.5 GW Oconee nuclear power plant, located near Seneca, in the US State of South Carolina. The NRC has approved extending the operating licenses of the nuclear plant, operate by the US utility Duke energy, until 2053 (for Unit 1) and 2054 (for Units 2 and 3).
The Oconee nuclear power plant comprises three reactors of about 850 MW each. Unit 1 was commissioned in 1973, while Units 2 and 3 were commissioned in 1974. Oconee is the first of Duke Energy’s nuclear facilities to receiving approval to operate for 80 years. All Duke Energy’s nuclear plants have already received initial license renewals to achieve up to 60 years of operation.
There are 95 nuclear reactors currently in operation in the US for a total capacity of nearly 100 GW. Nuclear accounted for 18% of the US' total generation in 2022 and 2023.