EDF has postponed the restart of two 900 MW nuclear reactors, namely Gravelines-2 and Dampierre-3, from late October to 15 November 2016.
These reactors are part of the 18 reactors that EDF had to stop to carry out inspections on certain channel heads of the steam generators, as required by the French nuclear safety agency (ASN). These steam generators equip 18 reactors of the 900 and 1450 MWe plant series; of these reactors, 12 are equipped with channel heads which could contain a particularly high carbon concentration. So far, EDF has carried out inspections for seven of the reactors (Tricastin-1 and 3, Bugey-4, Dampierre-3, Gravelines-2, Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux-B1 and Civaux-2) and the group will have to inspect Civaux-1, Fessenheim-1, Gravelines-4 and Tricastin-2 and 4.
This safety inspection will reduce the availability of nuclear power this autumn, as 21 reactors (out of 58) are currently idle for maintenance or safety inspection.
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