11 Apr (NucNet): French state-controlled nuclear operator EDF said on 10 April 2018 that it had discovered “certain quality deviations” on the welding of pipes in the main secondary system of the Flamanville-3 EPR reactor under construction in northern France.
The power group said it had told French nuclear regulator ASN of the discovery, but has yet to determine whether the unit’s start-up, scheduled the end of this year, will be delayed.
EDF said the discovery was made during the initial comprehensive inspection of the plant. The inspection is a regulatory requirement before startup. It includes the examination of the welds of the primary and secondary systems and allows an initial “reference state” to be established for the plant before its entry into operation, EDF said.
EDF is carrying out what it called “additional controls” on the 150 welds in question on the main secondary system to identify which are subject to quality deviations. EDF said it has ordered a report into the causes and nature of the deviations. The report will help the company define what corrective action it needs to take.
The full set of checks and the report will be completed by the end of May, EDF said.
“Following the current checks and the licencing process by ASN, EDF will be able to specify whether the project requires an adjustment to its timetable and its costs,” EDF said in a statement.
The loading of nuclear fuel is scheduled for the end of the 2018. Construction costs for the project are €10.5bn, EDF said. An estimate of the cost in July 2011 was €8bn.
In February EDF said some weldings on Flamanville-3’s secondary cooling circuit did not meet specifications, but the issue would not affect safety or the schedule to start up the plant at the end of 2018.
