The “Sortir du nucléaire” network, Greenpeace France, the CRILAN and Stop EPR-Ni in Penly and elsewhere are now filing an appeal before the Council of State to cancel the authorization given by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). ) to commission the Flamanville EPR reactor vessel. An authorization that should never have been granted. In 2005, ASN alerted Areva NP (now Framatome) and EDF to bad practices at the Creusot Forges plant. Ignoring these warnings, Areva NP has still made important elements of the tank for the EPR Flamanville. As shown by the correspondence between Areva and the ASN, the manufacturer has ignored the remarks of the latter on the manufacturing processes of this equipment. However, once the tank irreversibly installed in the reactor, Areva warned the ASN that it contained a defect calling into question its strength! After having described this anomaly as “very serious”, ASN nevertheless proposed to Areva to introduce a request for a derogation. Despite the protests of many citizens , the Safety Authority finally gave a favorable opinion on the use of this tank. Then, on October 10, 2018, she issued an authorization subject to the change of the lid in 2024 and additional surveillance measures. Given the problems encountered in Flamanville, it is absurd that the government continues to open the door to new reactors, with a possible decision on new projects in 2021. The future is for the energy transition towards energy savings and renewable energies, not to keep at arm’s length an outdated technology that threatens the whole of Europe!
Greenpeace France 28th Nov 2018 read more »