EDF announced, an additional two-year delay in the construction of the EPR nuclear reactor third generation Flamanville (Manche), with commissioning now expected in 2016. In July 2010, EDF had already postponed its launch by two years. The total cost of construction is now almost doubled compared to initial estimates, estimated at about €6bn, against €3.3bn in the beginning.
EDF explained that the delay is related to both structural and cyclical reasons. Flamanville 3 is the first nuclear power plant built in France for fifteen years. It is also the first EPR. In terms of industrial management, EDF has had to review its assessment of the extent of the work to be done, particularly in terms of civil engineering (iron reinforcements and anchor plates, much higher than initial estimates, etc.).
Moreover, while considerable progress has been made in recent months (80% of the civil engineering work has been completed, a start has been made on assembling the piping and electrical equipment), there have been two serious accidents, one of which has meant that civil engineering work had to be suspended for weeks, considerably slowing down progress for the first half of 2011.
As well as this, comprehensive analyses carried out as part of the post-Fukushima safety assessment audits will be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Authority in September.
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