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Released October 06, 2017 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--State-owned French energy giant Électricité de France SA (EPA:EDF) (Paris, France) has been forced to shut down its Tricastin nuclear power plant after it failed safety tests related to its ability to withstand an earthquake.
The company said that it is responding to a request from the country's Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) last week that will result in the temporary shutdown of the plant's four reactors, which have a combined generating capacity of 3,660 megawatts (MW). The plant is located in Drôme in the south of France, which suffers an above-average number of earthquakes.
EDF confirmed that the plant will remain shut until "strengthening work is carried out on a small section of the dyke located to the north of the power plant bordering the Donzère-Mondragon canal. It added that it does not agree with the ASN that the plant needs to be shut down while the work is carried out.
"As an operator that takes responsibility for the safety of its installations, EDF does not share the view that the four reactors need to be shut down for the duration of the work. EDF will nevertheless implement the ASN decision without undue delay."
Industrial Info is tracking a number of planned maintenance outages at all four units scheduled for 2017-18 and will be monitoring any possible changes to those projects due to the unforeseen shutdown.
The ASN stated: "ASN required that EDF temporarily shut down the four reactors of the Tricastin nuclear power plant as rapidly as possible. On 18 August 2017, EDF notified ASN of a significant safety event relating to a risk of failure of a part of the embankment of the Donzère-Mondragon canal with regard to the most severe earthquakes studied in the nuclear safety case. The resulting flooding could lead to a nuclear fuel melt accident in the four reactors of the Tricastin NPP and would make it particularly difficult to implement on-site and off-site emergency management resources."
EDF operates 58 reactors in France, which supply roughly three quarters of the country's power. The government confirmed this summer that it could close 17 nuclear reactors in the next eight years in order to reduce the country's reliance on nuclear power to 50%. For additional information, see July 20, 2017, article - France To Shut 17 Nuclear Reactors by 2025.
The company is under increased pressure to close its oldest plants, in particular Fessenheim. Earlier this year, the government ordered EDF to shut the plant when the new nuclear power plant at Flamanville comes online in 2020. For additional information, see April 24, 2017, article - French Government Orders Closure of Oldest Nuclear Plant.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
The company said that it is responding to a request from the country's Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) last week that will result in the temporary shutdown of the plant's four reactors, which have a combined generating capacity of 3,660 megawatts (MW). The plant is located in Drôme in the south of France, which suffers an above-average number of earthquakes.
EDF confirmed that the plant will remain shut until "strengthening work is carried out on a small section of the dyke located to the north of the power plant bordering the Donzère-Mondragon canal. It added that it does not agree with the ASN that the plant needs to be shut down while the work is carried out.
"As an operator that takes responsibility for the safety of its installations, EDF does not share the view that the four reactors need to be shut down for the duration of the work. EDF will nevertheless implement the ASN decision without undue delay."
Industrial Info is tracking a number of planned maintenance outages at all four units scheduled for 2017-18 and will be monitoring any possible changes to those projects due to the unforeseen shutdown.
The ASN stated: "ASN required that EDF temporarily shut down the four reactors of the Tricastin nuclear power plant as rapidly as possible. On 18 August 2017, EDF notified ASN of a significant safety event relating to a risk of failure of a part of the embankment of the Donzère-Mondragon canal with regard to the most severe earthquakes studied in the nuclear safety case. The resulting flooding could lead to a nuclear fuel melt accident in the four reactors of the Tricastin NPP and would make it particularly difficult to implement on-site and off-site emergency management resources."
EDF operates 58 reactors in France, which supply roughly three quarters of the country's power. The government confirmed this summer that it could close 17 nuclear reactors in the next eight years in order to reduce the country's reliance on nuclear power to 50%. For additional information, see July 20, 2017, article - France To Shut 17 Nuclear Reactors by 2025.
The company is under increased pressure to close its oldest plants, in particular Fessenheim. Earlier this year, the government ordered EDF to shut the plant when the new nuclear power plant at Flamanville comes online in 2020. For additional information, see April 24, 2017, article - French Government Orders Closure of Oldest Nuclear Plant.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
