Fessenheim, 1977-2020. The first reactor at the Haut-Rhin plant was shut down on February 23, 2020, the second on June 30, after a battle – more political than economic – which lasted eight years. And under EDF doctrine, dismantling began quickly. The fact-finding mission of the National Assembly, which has worked for a year and a half on the subject, draws an initial assessment in a report published on Wednesday, October 6. It makes recommendations to support the shutdown of twelve other reactors by 2035 – provided for by the multiannual energy programming in order to reduce the share of nuclear electricity from 75% to 50% – and identified by EDF: Le Blayais, Bugey, Chinon, Cruas, Dampierre, Gravelines and Tricastin.
The conversions of nuclear sites are large-scale operations beyond the financial capacities of the communities, and the report advocates close coordination with nuclear operators and the State. He underlines “The absolute need for a more precise schedule to give visibility”, know the costs and organize an industrial sector. Much progress remains to be made to create this sector, of which the “Technocentre” de Fessenheim, epicenter of the reconversion of the Alsatian territory, would be a key element.
Neither profitable nor attractive activity
Its business model “Remains to be built”, underlines the report. As it remains to industrialize the dismantling of the current fleet, which will extend beyond 2100. France has the necessary skills, assure its authors. But this activity is neither profitable, nor attractive, nor likely to provide a growth driver for the nuclear sector, they warn. Based on the dismantling of Chooz A (Ardennes) and nine American reactors close to French 900 megawatt (MW) units, EDF gives a range of 350 million to 500 million per reactor. He has provisioned 20 billion.
Another problem: as the power plants close, so-called “Very low activity” radiological systems will clog repositories that are in the process of saturation. Because French standards are stricter than those of other European countries: all materials leaving a power plant are considered radioactive waste, even if their radioactivity is less than natural radioactivity, or even zero. For EDF, which wants to make the technocentre a place of innovation, these are reusable resources, even if not for manufacturing consumer products.
You have 42.13% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.