French Nuclear Safety Authority Extends Deadline for Installation of Emergency Generators at Nuclear Power Plants

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--French Nuclear Safety Authority-- Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN) (Paris) has extended the deadline for the installation of Emergency Diesel Generator sets at the operational nuclear power plants in the country until the end of June 2013. The authority had earlier issued notice to the state-run power producer, Électricité de France S.A (EDF) (EDF: PA) (Paris) to complete installation of the emergency power back up system by December 2012.

Post the Fukushima disaster in March 2011 ASN has asked the French national power utility to install flood-proof diesel generators and set up bunkered back-up control rooms at each nuclear power plant in France. As per the guidelines set by ASN, these essential diesel backup units must operate for at least 36 hours until the Nuclear Rapid Action Force arrives with its own power back system. The generators, weighing approximately 10 tons, will have an integrated fuel capacity of 2,000 liters.

Under the commitments with the Safety Authorities, each production unit of EDF's nuclear fleet must be equipped with a new emergency diesel generator, which should be installed at a height of minimum 20 meters from the ground level. EDF has already completed installation of generators in most of the nuclear power units across France, the recent one being the 2,660-megawatt (MW) Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant. Commissioned during 1986-87, the plant has two nuclear reactors of 1,330 MW each.

Nuclear power is the primary source of electricity in France. The country has 58 nuclear reactors operated by EDF. With a total installed capacity of over 63 Gigawatt (GW) these power stations generates 421 billion kilo-watt hour (kWh) of electricity per year, which is around 78% of the total power produced in France. High cost of execution, around €30 to 50 million, is believed to have delayed implementation of the vital safety measure.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info'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.