EPR reactor in China: The Elysee announces a start in about six months
AFP 09 / 01 / 2018
The commissioning of the EPR nuclear reactors in Taishan, China, will begin in mid-2018, the Elysee said on Tuesday, ensuring that the loading of fuel on site was simply delayed "by a few days".
"For the Taishan reactors (EPR), fuel loading is delayed by a few days, and this will be the last step before a launch six months later," said the Elyos source.
This would be the first operational EPR in the world, even before those under construction in Flamanville (France) and Finland.
French President Emmanuel Macron, on a state visit to China since Tuesday, had already confirmed Monday in an interview with the Chinese state press, citing "an upcoming commissioning".
Two third generation reactors (EPR) are being built in Taishan, in the south of China, by a French-Chinese joint venture owned by 30% by the French EDF. His partner is the state group CGN, a giant of the Chinese civil atom.
Taishan 1 was due to start in the second half of 2017, but CGN unveiled a postponement at the end of December, announcing that it would finally be commissioned "in 2018", with the second reactor due to follow in 2019.
As no EPR has been put into service to date, the site has fallen behind schedule following "additional experimental verifications concerning the design and equipment", CGN argued at the time.
The commissioning of Taishan had already been delayed several times. The last delay was announced by CGN in February.
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