French president Emmanuel Macron has appointed his former energy minister Elisabeth Borne as prime minister to implement his energy programme, including accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and reviving nuclear power.
Montel 17th May 2022 read more »
Nuclear: faced with the problem of corrosion, a “large-scale” control program. The president of the Nuclear Safety Authority, Bernard Doroszczuk, gives a “general positive assessment” of the safety of the park, but underlines “points of vigilance”. The traditional exercise aimed to take stock of the state of nuclear safety in 2021. In the end, it was the events that occurred during the very last weeks of the year, but also during the first months of 2022, that was at the heart of Bernard Doroszczuk’s speech to the members of the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices on Tuesday 17 May. The President of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) returned to the consequences of the “stress corrosion” phenomenon observed on parts of the pipes which allow water to be injected into the main primary circuit in order to cool the core. of the reactor in the event of an accident. Since mid-December, EDF has shut down or extended the shutdown of twelve units in order to carry out in-depth assessments or repairs related to this problem. If the origin of this corrosion is not completely determined, Mr. Doroszczuk indicated that it could be due to the “design” of the reactors: the oldest and most widespread in the fleet are based on an original technology American, while the most recent were designed according to a model adapted by EDF. However, the piping that goes from the primary circuit to the first valve is longer and more complex on the second, and this route could generate greater thermomechanical stresses.
Le Monde 17th May 2022 read more »
The head of French nuclear regulator ASN said on Tuesday (17 May) that fixing corrosion problems at some of state-controlled utility EDF’s nuclear reactors would require a “large scale” plan and “several years” as he warned of a risk more reactors could be halted.
Euractiv 18th May 2022 read more »
The head of French nuclear regulator ASN said on Tuesday that fixing corrosion problems at some of state-controlled utility EDF’s (EDF.PA) nuclear reactors would require a “large scale” plan and “several years” as he warned of a risk more reactors could be halted. Bernard Doroszczuk told a parliamentary hearing that while EDF had checked 35 weldings for corrosion and would look at a further 105 by end-June, the cause of the problem was still unknown.
Reuters 17th May 2022 read more »