FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
November 13, 2003
BRITISH ENERGY PLC
(Registrant's name)
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride G74 5PR
Scotland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Exhibit Index
The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished
herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions
for Form 6-K:
Exhibit Description
No. 1 RNS Announcement, re: Output Statement and Update
dated 13 November, 2003
13 November 2003
BRITISH ENERGY plc
OCTOBER OUTPUT STATEMENT AND UPDATE ON SIZEWELL B AND HEYSHAM 1 OUTAGES
A summary of net output from all of British Energy's power stations in October
is given in the table below, together with comparative data for the previous
financial year:
2002/03 2003/04
October Year to Date October Year to Date
Output Load Output Load Output Load Output Load
(TWh) Factor (%) (TWh) Factor (TWh) Factor (TWh) Factor
(%) (%) (%)
UK - Nuclear 4.72 66 35.05 71 4.61 65 37.87 77
UK - Coal 0.78 54 2.15 22 0.88 61 3.12 31
AmerGen 1.47 80 11.14 88 1.50 81 12.12 95
(50% owned)
UK - Nuclear
Planned Outages
- A statutory outage was completed at Hinkley Point B and another started
at Sizewell B.
- A refuelling outage was carried out on one reactor at Dungeness B.
- Low load refuelling was carried out on one reactor each at Hinkley Point
B, Hunterston B and Torness.
Unplanned Outages
- Sizewell B is expected to return to service in mid November .
- Both units at Heysham 1 were shut down on 28 October following the
failure of a seawater cooling pipe. Based on the inspection programme,
which is still continuing, and the scope of the work identified to date,
it is now expected that both reactors will return to service towards
the end of November.
- It is now estimated that the combined gross loss of output caused by the
Sizewell B and Heysham 1 outages will be between 1.1 and 1.4 TWh,
compared to the previously stated estimate of 0.8TWh.
- An outage was completed on one unit at Torness and Hinkley Point B to
carry out boiler inspections and repairs.
- An outage was completed on one unit at Heysham 2 following a feed pump
trip to carry out inspections and repairs.
2003/04 UK Nuclear Output
At the outset of the year, the Company's forecast for total UK nuclear output
for the current financial year was approximately 67 TWh after establishing a
reserve for unplanned outages of approximately 5 TWh. Based on outages to date
and the Company's current expectations as to the return to service of Sizewell B
and Heysham 1, the remaining reserve for unplanned outages is approximately 2
TWh.
AmerGen
Planned Outage
- A planned outage started at Three-Mile Island Unit 1 in October
Update on impact of Sizewell B and Heysham 1 Outages
The delayed return of Sizewell B and Heysham 1 will have a further adverse
impact on the Group's cash position, although the profit and loss impact will be
less to the extent of savings on unburnt fuel. These and the other factors
described in the Company's announcement on 31 October 2003 continue to put
pressure on British Energy's liquid resources, which the Company has been
addressing and will continue to work to address. Please refer to the
announcement of 1 October 2003 for a more detailed discussion of the terms,
conditions and risks of the proposed restructuring.
CONTACTS
Andrew Dowler 020 7831 3113 (Media Enquiries)
Paul Heward 01355 262 201 (Investor Relations)
Find this News Release on our web-site: www.british-energy.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 13, 2003 BRITISH ENERGY PLC
By:____Paul Heward____
Name: Paul Heward
Title: Director - Investor Relations