EDF Gets 10-Year Extension for Tricastin Nuclear Plant

---

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--French utility Electricite de France (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris, France) has been granted a 10-year extension to operate the Tricastin nuclear power plant, the first EDF plant to have its life cycle extended to 40 years.

France's nuclear safety watchdog, the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire (ASN), has declared the 900-megawatt (MW) Unit 1 fit to operate for another decade, following extensive inspections carried out since 2009. The decision opens the way for many of EDF's older reactors to receive extensions. EDF operates 58 nuclear reactors at 19 plants across France, with a combined generating capacity of 63.1 gigawatts. Nuclear power accounts for almost 80% of the country's electricity.

"The No. 1 reactor of the Tricastin nuclear plant is the first French nuclear reactor to undergo a safety review three decades after its initial divergence," the ASN stated. "The safety review of reactor No. 1 at the nuclear plant consisted of two phases: the compliance review and reassessment of safety and special examinations on control of aging and renewal of skills. ASN considers that the No. 1 reactor of Tricastin is capable of being operated for a period of 10 additional years, after 30 years of operation."

Last summer, the ASN announced that there was no reason why the country's oldest nuclear plants could not operate for another 10 years, as long as the plants passed a rigorous 10-year inspection. EDF runs all 34 of the older 900-MW nuclear facilities, which have an average age of 28 years. It also runs 20 reactors with capacities of 1,300 MW and an average age of 21 years, as well as four newer 1,450-MW reactors. For additional information, see related news item from July 10, 2009 - France's Oldest Nuclear Reactors Get 10-Year Lifeline.

The ASN has also carried out a similar 10-year inspection at Unit 1 of the Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant, but a final decision has not yet been announced. Next year, the regulator will assess reactors at Bugey, Fessenheim, Dampierre and Gravelines.

Refurbishing the older plants is considered much cheaper than building new ones. In 2008, EDF announced a financial plan for its 58 reactors, claiming that an investment of about 400 million euros ($556 million) per reactor would add value of up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.67 billion) by not having to spend approximately 4 billion euros ($5.57 billion) building a new plant.

EDF is under pressure from the government this week to raise the amount of electricity generated from its nuclear fleet as France, and much of Europe, is undergoing a severe and protracted spell of freezing weather. Only 51 of the company's 58 reactors are operating.

France's Industry Minister Eric Besson called on the company to increase the load. "Fifty-one out of 58--we could hope for two or three more," he said. "Exceptional weather conditions, like the early cold snap currently freezing the country, appear to be occurring more frequently."

View Plant Profile - 1072408

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.