Nuclear experts say EDF's Flamanville reactor safe to start -source (updated)

Japan Steel Works

28/06/2017 13:08

* French experts support ASN findings on Flamanville reactor 
    * Source says EDF in talks to order new reactor cover 
    * Japan's JSW, not Areva's own foundry, would forge new 
cover 
    * Greenpeace calls on minister to halt reactor construction 
 
 (Adds detail, Greenpeace reaction, ASN press conference) 
    By Geert De Clercq 
    PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - Utility EDF's  EDF.PA  
Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor in northwest France has been 
cleared by a group of experts for start-up despite weak spots in 
its steel, confirming the findings of the ASN nuclear regulator, 
a source close to the situation told Reuters. 
    Completion of the third unit at Flamanville, where two 
reactors have been operating since 1986-87, had been thrown into 
doubt after the discovery in 2015 of weak spots in the steel 
prompted an extensive safety review by the ASN. 
    The ASN report on the reactor, which has yet to be released 
but a copy of which has been seen by Reuters, concludes that the 
reactor is fit for service, though it will need to be monitored 
throughout its lifetime and the lid of the containment vessel 
will probably need to be replaced in a few 
years. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1JN2OC urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1JK4XF 
    The "Groupe Permanent" experts, appointed to provide an 
independent second opinion, discussed the report on Monday and 
Tuesday and drafted its recommendation late on Tuesday evening, 
the source said. 
    The group's non-binding recommendation, which will be used 
by the ASN to formulate a final ruling on Flamanville this 
autumn, is expected to be published by the ASN at a news 
conference at 1400 GMT on Wednesday, along with its report.  
    The source also said that representatives of EDF had told 
the group of experts that the utility had started a procedure to 
order a new reactor cover from manufacturer Areva  AREVA.PA .  
    The new cover would be forged by Japan Steel Works  5631.T , 
not by Areva's Creusot Forge foundry, which manufactured the  
piece with carbon concentrations that were found to have made 
the steel more brittle. The new cover will still be tooled by 
Areva, the source added.  
    EDF plans to build two of the same Areva-designed European 
Pressurized Reactor (EPR) models in Hinkley Point, Britain.  
    EDF declined to comment. 
     
    HIGH STAKES 
    The stakes are high for EDF and Areva because it would cost 
billions of euros and take years to repair the vessel if ASN 
rules that the steel is too brittle. 
    The ASN's green light for Flamanville, slated for start-up 
in late 2018, is also a European Commission precondition for 
approving EDF's planned takeover of Areva's reactor business. 
    The source said that the ASN may publish a provisional 
ruling on Flamanville on its website around July 11 for public 
consultation.  
    Following input from the public and industry, it will then 
publish its final ruling in the autumn. Industry watchers say it 
its unlikely the final ruling will differ much from the original 
report and the experts' recommendation. 
    Greenpeace called on energy and environment minister Nicolas 
Hulot to halt the Flamanville construction. 
    "The ASN is no longer able to decide on safety in all 
independence and cannot resist industry pressure, simply because 
the survival of the entire French nuclear industry is at stake 
with the approval of this reactor vessel," Greenpeace said.  
    Greenpeace and other anti-nuclear activists argue that the 
group of experts is too close to the ASN and the nuclear 
industry to be able to contest the ASN's conclusion that 
Flamanville will be safe to operate. 
    The ASN does not detail the experts' professional 
backgrounds, but a spreadsheet obtained by Reuters shows that 
eight of them work or have worked with the ASN or IRSN, the 
technical arm of the regulator. Another eight work or have 
worked for EDF or Areva.  
    Critics say that only three of the experts are independent 
of the nuclear industry.  
    "The ASN is using an expert committee that is at its feet, 
with a text it has drafted itself, to legitimise a highly 
controversial decision on the safety of a device whose failure 
could have implications for millions of people," said Mycle 
Schneider, author of the annual World Nuclear Industry Status 
Report. 
 
    <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
EDF may need to replace Flamanville reactor lid in few years-ASN 
report     ID:nL8N1JN2OC  
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> 
 (Additional reporting by Benjamin Mallet; Editing by David 
Goodman) 
 ((geert.declercq@thomsonreuters.com; +33 14949 5343; Reuters 
Messaging: Twitter: @gvdeclercq)) 
 
Keywords: EDF FLAMANVILLE/