Edf: Flamanville EPR: EDF has adopted a scenario for upgrading the main secondary system penetration welds with robots and ha...
09 Oktober 2019 - 8:10AM
Edf: Flamanville EPR: EDF has adopted a scenario for upgrading the
main secondary system penetration welds with robots and has
adjusted the construction schedule and estimated cost
accordingly(1). The second hot functional test phase has st
PRESS RELEASE9 October
2019Flamanville EPR: EDF has adopted a scenario for
upgrading the main secondary system penetration
welds with robots and has adjusted the construction schedule and
estimated cost accordingly(1). The second hot functional test phase
has started on site.In the letter of 19 June 2019, the
Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) asked EDF to repair the eight
containment penetration welds for Flamanville EPR, not compliant
with the break preclusion principle(2). Within this framework, EDF
has assessed three repair scenarios.This work resulted in
discussions with the ASN, who sent EDF a letter on 4 October
concerning technical feasibility of these three scenarios.The
penetration weld rework scenario preferred by EDF is the use of
remote-operated robots, designed to conduct high precision
operations inside the piping concerned. This technology has been
developed for nuclear power plants in operation and shall be
qualified for penetration weld rework. The aim is to qualify this
scenario with validation by the ASN by the end of 2020, date on
which EDF will be able to initiate the repair works. The second
scenario, based on extraction and realignment works in the
Safeguard Auxiliary Buildings, is kept at this stage as a fall-back
solution. Based on this penetration weld repair strategy, the EDF
Board of Directors approved continuation of the Flamanville EPR
construction at a meeting held on the 8th of October 2019. Within
this context, the Group has had to adjust the schedule and the
estimated construction cost (1) for Flamanville EPR accordingly
(3).The provisional schedule for implementation of the preferred
penetration weld repair scenario, if the target for validation by
the ASN is complied with, results in the date of fuel loading at
the end 2022 and reassessment of the construction cost at 12.4
billion Euros (1), representing an increase of 1.5 billion Euros.
These additional costs will be presented mainly as other income and
expenses(4) and not as CAPEX.In addition, due to postponement of
the date of fuel loading, no revenue that should have been deducted
from net investments(5) will be generated by the plant during test
phase in 2020. In this context, the Group has adjusted its net
total investment target (6) to around 15.5 billion Euros for 2020,
instead of the initial target of around 15 billion Euros.The
process of realignment of the 58 welds on the secondary system with
quality deviations or not in compliance with the break preclusion
principle requirements defined by EDF is being continued on site.At
the same time, the second hot functional test phase was started on
21 September 2019 and will last until the end of 2019. These tests
are performed on the plant in normal operating conditions.1) In
2015 Euros and excluding interim interest2) Break preclusion
principal is a very high standard of quality going beyond the
nuclear pressure equipment regulations. It involves reinforcement
of the design, manufacturing and in-service monitoring requirements
for certain items of equipment. This reinforcement shall be
sufficient to consider that rupture of this equipment is highly
unlikely. (This standard is applied so that the consequences of
rupture of this piping do not need to be completely studied for
plant safety case). 3) The issue of deviation from the technical
manufacturing baseline for Framatome reactor components
(stress-relieving heat treatment process for the welds with
electrical resistance) (see EDF press release of 18 September
2019), which concerns the four steam generators and pressuriser at
Flamanville 3 EPR, is not covered in this press release.4) IAS
16 section 22 concerning abnormal costs presented for
self-constructed assets. These costs will affect 2020, 2021 and
2022. For 2020, impact on net income Group share is estimated, all
things being equal, at -0.4 billion Euros, without affecting
current net income.5) IAS 16 section 17.6) Excluding acquisitions
and “2019-2020 Group disposals”
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A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated
electricity company, active in all areas of the business:
generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading,
energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group
has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power,
hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is
involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 39.8
million customers(1), 29.7million of which are in France. It
generated consolidated sales of €69 billion in 2018. EDF is listed
on the Paris Stock Exchange.(1)The customers were counted at the
end of 2018 per delivery site; a customer can have two delivery
points: one for electricity and another for gas
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