France's Flamanville nuclear reactor gears up for production, but energy roll-out delayed
The long awaited Flamanville III EPR nuclear reactor in Normandy is finally entering service after 12 years of delays and setbacks, with the process leading to the first nuclear fission chain reaction finally underway at the plant. However, France's EDF energy company said Monday that the flagship facility would have to wait a further three months to see its new reactor supply the national electricity grid.
EDF had announced recently that it had been given the green light from France's ASN nuclear safety authority to start producing the first electrons from the third generation European Pressurised Water Reactor or EPR.
In a video published on X, EDF stated: "The divergence phase has begun. This operation will make the reactor core beat for the first time", specifying that “divergence initiates the nuclear fission chain reaction”.
But "coupling" – the grid connection operations that will enable French households to benefit from the energy of the most powerful 1,600 megawatt reactor – will still have to wait.
According to Régis Clément, deputy director of the French group's nuclear production division: "We are talking about the end of autumn, because we have a fairly substantial programme of tests ahead of us," adding that the plant's nuclear core would be brought up to speed "in successive stages" before it could "show its credentials".
Read more on RFI English
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