EPR reactors, presented as the flagship of the French nuclear industry, are supposed to be more powerful and safer. Except that for Yannick Jadot, environmental MEP, this technology does not work. “EPRs, there is not one running in the world”he said on franceinfo on Wednesday August 31.
Is Yannick Jadot telling the truth? Not really, because there is a plant that produces electricity with EPR reactors. It is that of Taishan in southern China, the first in the world to enter service three years ago. However, even if it is recent, one of the two reactors had to be shut down for a full year because of leaks and it was only two weeks ago, during the month of August, that the power plant really restarted completely.
Concerning the other EPR reactors in the world, there is a plant in Finland whose construction has been completed but which has not yet entered into service and two others still under construction: Flamanville in France and Hinkley Point in England. The common point of these three plants is that they are all weighed down by significant delays. The “palm” goes to the Finnish EPR which should have started 12 years ago. Instead, the plant, which started up its reactor last March for testing, had to disconnect it from the power grid this week because of a turbine problem. A new disappointment, while in the midst of an energy crisis, the EPR was to supply nearly 15% of the country’s electricity consumption this winter.
At Hinkley Point in England, construction is already at least two years behind schedule and should be completed in 2027. Regarding Flamanville in France, work is still in progress. EDF is aiming for entry into service at the end of 2023, while the initial schedule provided for the end of construction in 2012. It would be 11 years late due in particular to poor workmanship and welding problems. The bill is also skyrocketing. The cost of the plant has been multiplied by six from 3 to 19 billion euros, according to a report by the Court of Auditors.
How can everyone be better informed?
Participate in the consultation initiated as part of the European project De facto on the Make.org platform. Franceinfo is the partner