Released July 10, 2009 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has announced that there is no reason why the country's oldest nuclear plants cannot operate for another 10 years. The organization has agreed in principle that reactors in the 900-megawatt (MW) capacity range can have their working lives extended from 30 to 40 years as long as the plants pass a rigorous 10-year inspection, which can result in the plant's being offline for three or four months. According to the ASN, the plants will also undergo a "safety reassessment" to raise their levels of security to those of more modern nuclear facilities.
The ASN said, "[We] have not identified any generic problem that could cause us doubt about EDF being able to control the safety of their 900-MW reactors up to the age of 40 years. Our overall position will be complemented by our position on a reactor-by-reactor basis."
The decision is good news for Electricite de France (EPA:EDF) (Paris, France), the national power giant that runs all 34 of the 900-MW nuclear facilities. The 900-MW reactors now have an average age of 27 years. France also has 20 reactors with a 1,300-MW capacity and an average age of 21 years as well as four newer 1,450-MW reactors. EDF operates 58 reactors at 19 nuclear power plants in France, supplying about three quarters of the nation's power.
EDF has already voiced intentions to extend the life of its plants to 60 years similarly to some facilities in the U.S., but the company first must convince the ASN that the plants can be safely run for 40 years. The first plant to undergo its 30-year inspection in May was the 900-MW Unit 1 reactor in Tricastin in the Provence region. The reactor in Fessenheim in the northeast of France will follow.
Last year, EDF set out a financial plan for its 58 reactors, claiming that for an investment of about 400 million euros ($556 million) per reactor, the company can add value of up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.67 billion) by not having to spend 4 billion euros ($5.57 billion) building a new plant.
France's nuclear output in recent months has been reduced by a series of damaging strikes by key EDF workers, while the summer heatwave has resulted in EDF having to shut down older plants based near inland rivers for safety reasons. This has led to France importing electricity from the U.K. For additional information, see related April 21, 2009, news article - French Power Hit by Strikes.
France plans to build two new reactors. The first new nuclear plant, which will feature the new European Pressurised Reactor, is the 1,650-MW facility in Flamanville, scheduled to go live in 2012. French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in February that a second 1,650-MW facility will be constructed in the French commune of Penly. For related information, view previous news articles - EDF Continues Construction of New Nuclear Reactor at Flamanville Power Plant and France to Increase Nuclear Power Capacity with Construction of Second European Pressurized Reactor in Penly.
View Plant Profile - 1072471 1064829
View Project Report - 72000136 72000075
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.
The ASN said, "[We] have not identified any generic problem that could cause us doubt about EDF being able to control the safety of their 900-MW reactors up to the age of 40 years. Our overall position will be complemented by our position on a reactor-by-reactor basis."
The decision is good news for Electricite de France (EPA:EDF) (Paris, France), the national power giant that runs all 34 of the 900-MW nuclear facilities. The 900-MW reactors now have an average age of 27 years. France also has 20 reactors with a 1,300-MW capacity and an average age of 21 years as well as four newer 1,450-MW reactors. EDF operates 58 reactors at 19 nuclear power plants in France, supplying about three quarters of the nation's power.
EDF has already voiced intentions to extend the life of its plants to 60 years similarly to some facilities in the U.S., but the company first must convince the ASN that the plants can be safely run for 40 years. The first plant to undergo its 30-year inspection in May was the 900-MW Unit 1 reactor in Tricastin in the Provence region. The reactor in Fessenheim in the northeast of France will follow.
Last year, EDF set out a financial plan for its 58 reactors, claiming that for an investment of about 400 million euros ($556 million) per reactor, the company can add value of up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.67 billion) by not having to spend 4 billion euros ($5.57 billion) building a new plant.
France's nuclear output in recent months has been reduced by a series of damaging strikes by key EDF workers, while the summer heatwave has resulted in EDF having to shut down older plants based near inland rivers for safety reasons. This has led to France importing electricity from the U.K. For additional information, see related April 21, 2009, news article - French Power Hit by Strikes.
France plans to build two new reactors. The first new nuclear plant, which will feature the new European Pressurised Reactor, is the 1,650-MW facility in Flamanville, scheduled to go live in 2012. French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in February that a second 1,650-MW facility will be constructed in the French commune of Penly. For related information, view previous news articles - EDF Continues Construction of New Nuclear Reactor at Flamanville Power Plant and France to Increase Nuclear Power Capacity with Construction of Second European Pressurized Reactor in Penly.
View Plant Profile - 1072471 1064829
View Project Report - 72000136 72000075
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.
