France’s newest nuclear reactor shuts itself down
France’s newest nuclear reactor automatically shut itself down Wednesday, a day after starting up for the first time. The state-owned operator said there was no need for concern and that shutdowns can happen during such “long and complicated” startup processes. The European Pressurised Reactor, which is the model for France’s new generation of power plants, was completed 12 years late and four times over budget.
France's newest nuclear reactor, plagued by massive delays and cost overruns, shut itself down automatically Wednesday just a day after starting up for the first time.
The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Flamanville, Normandy is going through a "long and complex startup process requiring many trials and tests, and that can induce shutdowns like this," a spokeswoman for state-owned energy giant EDF told AFP.
The shutdown "proves the safety system is working well," she added, saying that staff were now "doing the necessary technical checks and analysis... then they will restart the reactor".
EDF's latest reactor, supposed to be the model for a new generation of power plants pushed by President Emmanuel Macron for the coming decades, has been completed 12 years late at a cost of 13.2 billion euros ($14.6 billion) -- around four times the 3.3 billion initially budgeted.
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
Read also:
France drops renewables targets, prioritises nuclear in new energy bill
Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power down
UK unveils plans for nuclear power expansion to boost energy independence
