The expected cost of building the Flamanville 3 EPR has increased from €10.5bn to €10.9bn ($12.7bn), and fuel loading has been delayed by a year until the fourth quarter of 2019, French utility EDF announced today.
Construction of the 1650MWe Flamanville EPR began in December 2007, and it was initially targeting commercial operation in 2013. Following many delays, the last schedule anticipated fuel loading at the reactor before the end of 2018. However, in April EDF warned that the project could fall further behind and over budget after problems were found with the welds in the secondary system.
EDF has now inspected 148 of the 150 welds in the secondary system of the Flamanville EPR and says that 33 have "quality deficiencies" and will be repaired. The remaining welds will be inspected before the end of July.
Although they have no defects, EDF has decided to rework a further 20 welds, because they do not comply with the "high quality" requirements defined during the EPR design phase.
For ten other welds, EDF has submitted a proposal to the French Nuclear Safety Authority, ASN, detailing a "specific justification method" to confirm the safety at the plant throughout its operating life. The method will require in-depth examination by ASN.
"EDF teams and their industrial partners are fully mobilised and are continuing all other assembly and testing activities at the Flamanville EPR, including the system performance tests," EDF said.
Hot testing is scheduled to start before the end of 2018, with fuel loading expected in the fourth quarter of 2019.
EDF added that the impact on the operation of two reactors at Fessenheim "is currently being reviewed." A 2017 decree paved the way for closure of Fessenheim, France's oldest nuclear plant, as soon as Flamanville 3 became operational.
Photo: Flamanville 3 (Source: ASN)
