EDF appoints a new director for the Flamanville EPR project

Paris (AFP)

EDF announced Thursday the appointment of a new director for the Flamanville EPR project, without specifying the reasons for this change in governance that comes after the announcement of a hefty bill for this project.

The CEO of the group "has proceeded to the appointment of Alain Morvan to the position of project manager Flamanville 3. He succeeds Laurent Thieffry appointed director of the Industrial Division within the New Nuclear Engineering and Projects Department", indicated EDF in a statement.

Questioned by AFP on the reasons for this change, the group did not wish to comment.

These appointments will take effect on January 1, 2020.

The day before, EDF announced that the cost of the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor project (Manche) is expected to increase by 1.5 billion euros to 12.4 billion euros, as a result of welding problems.

The electrician, who is aiming for a late 2022 fuel loading, presented his preferred solution chosen to carry out the complex repair work with teleoperated robots.

The expected cost of the Flamanville EPR, launched fifteen years ago, was announced so far of 10.9 billion, already three times more than the initial estimate.

Alain Morvan, who started his career with the company, joined the Nuclear Generation Division in 2019, the group said.

The Industrial Division headed by Laurent Thieffry "brings the expertise of the nuclear industry within EDF in the fields of materials, chemistry and geosciences". It is also in charge of controlling and monitoring suppliers for all of the group's nuclear activities, it is still indicated.

In early October, the CEO of EDF announced "concrete decisions" on the nuclear industry that is going through "difficult times".

The problems in Flamanville have led the government to order the former CEO of PSA Jean-Martin Folz an audit, which must be submitted on October 31.

The group is also struggling in England, where its huge construction site for two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C is expected to cost up to € 3.3 billion more than expected.

© 2019 AFP