EDF today announced further delays to the construction of its EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville, which will now not be built until 2018. The group has also raised the cost estimate to €10.5 billion, a threefold increase on the initial €3 billion budget.
French nuclear regulator ASN said weak spots had been found in the reactor, due to high carbon concentrations compromising the mechanical resilience of the metal. In June, a leaked report from the watchdog highlighted faults in the plant’s cooling system.
However, Lévy assured the problems would have “no impact” on EDF’s plan to build two EPR reactors in the UK and insisted the experience gained will be “invaluable” for other EPR projects.
“All of the experience gained at Flamanville will be invaluable for other EPR projects, and for Hinkley Point C in particular. I have total confidence in the success of the Hinkley Point project, which is based on a realistic estimate of costs and timetable. We are drawing the lessons from Flamanville to apply them to Hinkley Point C, and that project has clear oversight and controls in place,” he added.
GMB, the union for nuclear workers, pointed out that the problems with the Flamanville project are “well known”.
The group’s national secretary for energy Gary Smith said: “The agreements GMB have for Hinkley take into account some of the experiences of what went wrong at Flamanville. The really positive news is the firm commitment from the EDF chairman both to Hinkley and Sizewell.
“This is great news as Hinkley Point C promises 25,000 job opportunities, 1,000 apprenticeships and 60 per cent of the construction cost going to UK companies. This means we can look forward to the final investment decision being announced in October.”
The Telegraph reported today that Hinkley has been delayed and will not start generating power in 2023 as originally planned. Lévy said the commissioning date will be updated at the point when a final investment decision, expected in November, is made.