The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has authorised the French power utility EDF to extend the operating life of reactor number 1, which has a capacity of 900 MW, at the Tricastin power plant by ten years. This marks the first time a reactor in the French nuclear fleet has been extended beyond 40 years of operation. The ASN's decision was based on a thorough review of the reactor's safety measures, actions taken by EDF, and compliance with regulatory standards. Tricastin 1, which entered construction in 1974, reached commercial operation phase in 1980.
The extension was facilitated by EDF's ongoing "Grand carénage" programme, which aims to renovate and enhance the safety of nuclear reactors, allowing them to operate well beyond the 40-year mark. The cost of the programme is estimated at around €66bn, and the government is also considering a separate programme to build 6 to 14 EPR reactors. The ASN ruled on the conditions for the continued operation of EDF's 900 MWe nuclear reactors beyond 40 years in 2021. France has 46 PWR reactors on 18 sites, including a fleet of 32 reactors rated 900 MW, which entered commercial operations between 1977 and 1988.
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