Nuclear: the Flamanville EPR again delayed

Construction of the Flamanville EPR began in December 2007. AFP / File

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The new generation EPR nuclear reactor under construction in Flamanville (Manche) continues to be delayed.

It was to be launched at the end of the year.

It will be rather mid-2023 from now on, EDF announcement this Wednesday, January 12, 2022. 

Advertising

Read more

"

": the Covid-19 is responsible, according to EDF for this umpteenth delay of the Flamanville EPR initially scheduled for 2012, its commissioning is now scheduled for the second quarter of 2023 for an estimated cost of 12.7 billion euros.

Concretely, before being able to start loading the fuel, there are still many steps to be taken.

Defective welds need to be reviewed, a test campaign is to come.

We must also clarify the scenario that occurred in China this summer.

One of the two French-designed EPRs at the Taishan power plant was shut down at the end of July, following a minor, but still annoying, leak problem.

► To read also: China: the nuclear reactor of the Taishan EPR shut down

These troubles do not call into question the EPR model, believes EDF which can rely in this slump on good news: the commissioning of that of

last month - with twelve years late anyway. .. there are therefore two in operation currently in the world while waiting for many others, hopes EDF, in particular after the announcement of Emmanuel Macron of the construction of new reactors in France.

Commissioning expected around 2035. 

► See also: 

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Emmanuel Macron

• Nuclear

• France

• Energies

• Industry