EDF Completes Inspection for Bugey Nuclear Reactor in France

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--French utility Électricité de France SA (EDF) (Paris) has successfully completed the fourth 10-year statutory inspection of Production Unit No. 3 at the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant in eastern France near the Swiss border. The reactor was reconnected to the national grid on September 9, after being offline since November 11, 2023. This comprehensive overhaul involved more than 20,000 activities, including three critical regulatory examinations approved by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) (Montrouge)--the hydraulic test of the primary circuit, the containment building's resistance to pressure, and an in-depth inspection of the reactor vessel's structural integrity.

During the outage, over 70 modifications were made to the reactor's systems, aimed at extending its operational life beyond 40 years and aligning it with the safety standards of modern reactors, such as the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR). Units no. 2 and 4 of the Bugey plant remain fully operational, while Unit No. 5 is undergoing a partial inspection. EDF's modernization efforts reflect France's commitment to sustaining its nuclear energy output amid global energy transitions.

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Industrial info is tracking 71 maintenance projects at nuclear power plants in France, worth US$1.09 billion. Subscribers can click here for a full list of projects.

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