EDF has extended the shutdown of some of its nuclear reactors, where corrosion problems have been identified.
EDF has extended the shutdown of some of its nuclear reactors, where corrosion problems have been identified, and in some cases the shutdown will continue until the end of the year, according to data published Friday by RTE.
The restart of reactor number 2 at the Chooz power plant (Ardennes) is now scheduled for December 31, according to these data published by the network manager. At the beginning of January, his arrest had already been extended until April 20. The restart of the two reactors at Civaux (Vienne) is expected on August 31 for the first reactor and December 31 for the second.
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Corrosion problems had been identified on a safety circuit of these three reactors. The same problems have since been detected on one of those of the Penly power plant (Seine-Maritime). Penly 1 is thus stopped until May 30. Investigations are continuing to determine whether Chooz reactor number 1 is also affected. It must for the moment restart on February 11.
12% of French nuclear capacity
Currently, of the 56 reactors in the French nuclear fleet, five are shut down because of identified or suspected corrosion problems. These five reactors represent 12% of French nuclear capacity. This led EDF to revise its forecast for nuclear production downwards on Thursday evening.
“The realization of the controls, the instruction of technical solutions and their deployment lead EDF to extend the shutdown of the reactors of Civaux 1, Civaux 2, Chooz 1, Chooz 2 and Penly 1”, had indicated EDF.
These unplanned shutdowns increase the tension a little more on the security of electricity supply this winter in France, when the availability of the fleet is already low.
The question now arises of possible additional stops due to corrosion problems. “EDF today initiated the re-examination of all the checks that had been made in the past and this for all the reactors of the park”, declared Friday to AFP Julien Collet, deputy director general of the Nuclear Safety Authority. (ASN). The latter does not know at this stage whether it will be necessary to shut down other reactors for physical checks and possible repairs if a suspicion of corrosion appears during this documentary examination.
“Checks can be made, perhaps over the course of the normal shutdown of the reactors, but perhaps a certain number of them will have to be carried out in advance. This is something that remains to be determined,” said Mr. Collet.
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