[Machine Translation] Nuclear: the Flamanville EPR is likely to experience further delays. The Nuclear Safety Authority may request the repair of defective welds or additional studies to ensure their reliability. The nightmare EPR Flamanville (Channel) endless for EDF. According to our information, the permanent group of experts of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), meeting on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday, April 10, observed with severity the situation of defective welding of the reactor, which could delay the project by several months , even years. Put in construction in 2007, the EPR was initially to start in 2012 and cost 3.5 billion euros. It must now be connected to the network in early 2020, for a bill of nearly 11 billion. While the site is almost finished, quality differences were discovered in February and April 2018, welds of the secondary circuit discharging steam to the turbine. Some prove non-compliant with the “high quality” standard – excluding the possibility of breakage – chosen by EDF. Others do not even respect the standard regulations.
Le Monde 10th April 2019 read more »
[Machine Translation] EPR Flamanville: towards a new delay of two years? The Nuclear Regulatory Authority could give a contrary opinion concerning the welding of the Flamanville EPR (Channel). And postpone the commissioning again. According to Le Monde , exchanges have been strained between ASN and EDF, which has been asked to prove the reliability of 58 welds. While the electrician hoped to be able to postpone the repair of eight essential welds – since integrated in the containment – proving their reliability, the nuclear policeman would oppose this scenario. A position that would push EDF to completely revise its schedule. According to Le Monde, ASN’s opinion, originally scheduled for early May, could this time be published “before the summer”. According to the daily, if EDF were to look into these eight welds, the commissioning of the EPR could be delayed “by at least two years”. Recall that the EPR, launched in 2007, was initially expected to start in 2012 and cost 3.5 billion euros. The bill has now risen to nearly 11 billion.
Actu.fr 10th April 2019 read more »