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France’s nuclear regulator censures EDF over Flamanville project welding problems

French nuclear watchdog raps EDF over Flamanville failings,  Regulator says EDF must improve pre-startup testing, Orders EDF to send it report on weldings problems (Adds ASN comment on welding problems), By Geert De Clercq, PARIS, Feb 23 (Reuters) – French nuclear regulator ASN said it has told EDF to improve the running of the construction of the Flamanville nuclear reactor, which is years behind schedule and billions over budget.

The ASN has repeatedly said a schedule to load nuclear fuel at the EPR reactor in Flamanville, which is the same type as EDF is building in Britain’s Hinkley Point, by year-end is tight.

ASN said EDF must improve the follow-up of pre-startup test as well as the treatment of any flaws, and to improve the information flow to the regulator.

“EDF has promised to put in place an action plan to remedy these dysfunctions,” ASN said in a statement on Friday.

The ASN also said it had questioned EDF and Framatome, the company formerly called Areva, about flaws in the welding of the Flamanville reactor’s steam pipes.

………Any further delay to Flamanville would be another blow to the image of the EPR reactor. Three others have been under construction for years in Finland and China and are all over budget and schedule.

It could also force EDF to increase its cost estimate for the reactor, which it last updated to 10.5 billion euros in September 2015, from an original estimate of 3 billion euros. https://www.reuters.com/article/edf-flamanville/update-1-french-nuclear-watchdog-raps-edf-over-flamanville-failings-idUSL8N1QD2G2

February 24, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, safety