nuclear-news

EDF to repair French nuclear reactor fuel rods after corrosion found

“Mediapart said the problem would impact production levels due to the high number of reactors involved, and the corrosion could require EDF to replace the nuclear fuel more frequently”

“EDF has already estimated that some Eur55 billion ($75.0 billion) of investment is required to extend the lifespans of its entire fleet for a further 10 years, including around Eur10 billion to cover further safety demands from the ASN following the Fukushima disaster in 2011”

“EDF’s nuclear fleet produced 403.7 TWh of power in 2013, down 0.3% on the year and below the reduced 405-410 TWh target for 2013 announced by the company in early November.”

“EDF has said it also plans seven, ten-yearly outages in 2014”

“This will be more of a challenge in 2016, when six, 10-yearly outages are planned.”

London (Platts)–10Feb2014/749 am EST/1249 GMT

http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/london/edf-to-repair-french-nuclear-reactor-fuel-rods-26700232

EDF will have to carry out maintenance to fix excess corrosion on fuel rods in 25 of its 58 French nuclear reactors, a spokeswoman for ASN, the nuclear watchdog, said Monday.

Tests have shown that “unacceptable” levels of corrosion have been found on the fuel rods, which hang into reactor pools and power the nuclear reaction, the spokeswoman said.

State-controlled EDF’s 58 nuclear power reactors provide three quarters of France’s power.

“At this stage, there is no consequence in terms of operations,” an EDF spokesman said. “Normal improvement procedures are scheduled, with notably a program for replacing certain rods from 2015.”

EDF and ASN are currently in formal dialogue on the issue, and the watchdog is to present more precise demands later this month, the ASN spokeswoman said.

The comments follow a report Friday by the Mediapart news agency that 13 reactors of capacity 1.3 GW and 12 reactors of 900 MW capacity were affected by the corrosion problems.

Mediapart said the problem would impact production levels due to the high number of reactors involved, and the corrosion could require EDF to replace the nuclear fuel more frequently.

EDF has already estimated that some Eur55 billion ($75.0 billion) of investment is required to extend the lifespans of its entire fleet for a further 10 years, including around Eur10 billion to cover further safety demands from the ASN following the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

ASN also ordered EDF last month to demonstrate new “hardened safety core” measures at all its plants by the end of June.

ASN wants the hardened safety core to enable EDF to perform emergency management duties in a more secure environment than that enforced for the entire plant facility. The measures are in addition to improvements already planned by EDF following the Fukushima disaster.

These include the instalment of backup diesel generators at every reactor, and a rapid response unit to provide water and power solutions in a crisis.

In April 2013, ASN also called on EDF to improve safety standards at six nuclear plant sites, specifically the day-to-day operations including maintenance, due to too many faults.

EDF’s nuclear fleet produced 403.7 TWh of power in 2013, down 0.3% on the year and below the reduced 405-410 TWh target for 2013 announced by the company in early November.

The group had already downgraded its 2013 target from 410-415 TWh after poorer than expected performance in the third quarter.

EDF planned seven, ten-year reactor inspections in 2013, compared with six in 2012 and its strategy of managing outage durations failed to limit extensions as much as it had hoped.

EDF has said it also plans seven, ten-yearly outages in 2014, but this is forecast to drop to four reactors in 2015 allowing EDF to ramp up its production rate.

This will be more of a challenge in 2016, when six, 10-yearly outages are planned.

February 24, 2014 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized