THE owner of Torness Power Station has seen earnings plummet in the first half of the year as a result of lower electricity output.
British Energy said pre-tax earnings fell by 50 per cent to £257 million in the six months to September 28.
The company, which has agreed to be taken over by French power group EDF, blamed power station shutdowns for the decline.
It said it is confident it can extend the lives of its existing nuclear power stations and, with the help of EDF, build new reactors.
Total output in the period was 22.7 terrawatt hours (TWh), against 30.7 TWh in the same period last year.
But chief executive Bill Coley said the company remains confident about the second half as five reactors are expected to return to service before December.