Advertisement

France forced to close several nuclear reactors for checks

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
France forced to close several nuclear reactors for checks
Photo: AFP

France's nuclear safety authority has asked the state-owned power company EDF to shut down five nuclear reactors to carry out safety checks.

Advertisement

The watchdog has given EDF three months to check five of France's 58 reactors, which it said were Civaux 1, Fessenheim 1, Gravelines 4, Tricastin 4, and Tricastin 2.
 
A further seven are already being tested. 
 
The checks were prompted by the discovery of a high level of carbon in steel used in the high-pressure heat exchangers, which can weaken their mechanical properties and ultimately lead to leaks or explosions. 
 
EDF has downplayed the risk. 
 
"The safety margins are very large and the carbon content does not undermine integrity or security, even in the case of an accident," an EDF spokesperson told Le Monde newspaper
 
The closures have prompted concern that the outages will leave France with a winter energy shortage, and have already caused power prices to increase. 
 
The power company has said it aims to get all five reactors up and running again before the start of 2017.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also