nuclear-news

France Will Fix Its Nuclear Problems. But Will That Satisfy Other Nations? , Forbes, July 11 15 “…….“AREVA and EDF have informed the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) that a new series of tests is underway as of April 2015 for the qualification of the … EPR reactor vessel head and bottom,” says a joint statement by EDF and Areva, which are involved in the projects. Areva designs the reactors and Electricite de France runs the nuclear operations.

“This series of tests follow chemical and mechanical tests performed on a representative model of the reactor vessel head and bottom,” the statement adds. “Following the initial tests, the results … showed that one of the criteria was not met in an area with greater than average carbon content.”

That “Flamanville” project has already been pushed back five years to 2017. However, this latest obstacle could delay it once again. With that, the French Socialist government there may well decide to pump national treasure into those French operations — to help soothe over the loss of $5.6 billion for Areva in 2014. The French government owns about 85 percent of both Areva and EDF.

Meantime, a different French project in Finland is suffering delays and cost over-runs. That Finnish facility was to be completed in 2009, and is now projected to be 2018. Cost, meanwhile have escalated …..

“….the European Pressurized Reactor and the export business in Europe may become a victim of cost extremes and schedule overreach.”…..

Critics say that the billions it will cost to make such upgrades is money that could otherwise be spent developing the country’s green energy program…..