France's ASN regulator said it had approved the start-up of EDF's Flamanville EPR reactor, which will allow state-owned power company EDF to load nuclear fuel into it.

Paris

France's Nuclear Safety Agency (ASN) has officially approved the start-up of the Electricité de France (EDF)'s Flamanville European Pressurised Reactor (EPR), paving the way for EDF to begin the process of loading nuclear fuel into the reactor. This decision marks a significant step forward in France's nuclear energy sector and comes after years of anticipation and delays. The Flamanville reactor, first initiated in 2007 during Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency, is designed to offer enhanced efficiency and safety compared to older nuclear reactors.

The construction of the Flamanville EPR encountered numerous challenges, including cracks in its concrete slabs, faulty welding, and issues with the steel of the reactor vessel. These setbacks extended the project's timeline by 12 years and significantly increased the financial costs. Initially estimated at 3.3 billion euros, the project's final cost, including financing, has soared to approximately 19 billion euros, according to France's accounting authority.

Despite the hurdles, the Flamanville EPR is seen as a cornerstone of France's strategy to reduce carbon emissions. The reactor is part of a broader plan by EDF and the French government to construct over a dozen new EPR units across the country. The Flamanville reactor, along with others planned, aims to contribute to a Europe reliant on free circulation of decarbonized electricity, encompassing both renewable and nuclear sources.

Once operational, following a phase of testing and connection to the grid, the Flamanville reactor is expected to be a significant contributor to France's power supply. It is projected to produce 1.6 gigawatts of electricity per hour, positioning it as the most powerful reactor in France. The approval for its operation comes amidst a global context where similar EPR projects in China, Finland, and the UK have faced considerable delays but are moving toward contributing to the global reduction of carbon emissions through nuclear energy.



France's Flamanville power plant gets greenlight

It's been a long wait for France's electric utility, its nuclear sector and the government. Their hopes finally realised late Tuesday as the country's nuclear safety watchdog issued this statement. The Nuclear Safety Agency has authorised the entry into service of the EPR reactor at Flamanville. This authorisation allows EDF to load the nuclear fuel into the reactor and to proceed with start-up tests and commercial operation of the reactor. Launched in 2007 under President Nicolas Sarkozy, the project has seen a litany of setbacks, cracks in its concrete slabs, faulty welding, anomalies in the steel of the reactor vessel itself. Construction took 12 years longer than planned, the budget too far beyond initial projections. Including financing costs, France's accounting authority puts the final bill at 19 billion euros instead of the 3.3 billion first estimated. The EPR is a pressurised system designed for more efficiency and safety than older reactors. Two have entered service in China and one in Finland with another under construction at Hinkley Point in the UK. All have faced significant service delays. French electric utility EDF and the government are counting on Flamanville's inauguration to kick-start their plan for more than a dozen new EPRs around the country, a major pillar of Paris' plans to cut carbon emissions. We must build a Europe based on the free circulation of decarbonised electricity, whether via renewables or nuclear, it doesn't matter. After testing, the new reactor should be connected to the grid within a few months. It's expected to produce 1.6 gigawatts per hour by year-end, making it the most powerful reactor in the country.

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