French power utility EDF has unveiled details of its €55bn plan by 2025, aimed at extending the operation lifetime of its power plants from 40 years to 60 years. The group plans to invest €10bn in complementary measures requested by French nuclear regulator ASN following the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011, such as additional cold water sources or strategic pumps and generators. EDF will also dedicate €20bn to upgrade the power plants during maintenance operations and decennial monitoring campaigns. €15bn will be invested in replacing large components (steam generators, circuits, etc.) and €10bn will go to other large projects (environment, fire risks, etc.).
The lifetime extension of the 58 nuclear reactors will have to be approved by the ASN, which is expected to issue its first decision in 2015. The ASN will rule if the safety level of the existing plants is in line with the safety requirements of the latest generation of nuclear reactors (such as the Flamanville EPR, currently under construction). The first nuclear plant to be shutdown will be Fessenheim in 2016. Without the lifetime extension, 2 to 8 units will reach their 40-year limit every year between 2020 and 2030; power capacity withdrawals would then range between 1.8 GW and 7.2 GW every year.
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