ASN’s supervision of the Flamanville-3 reactor construction (EPR) : News
Read the newsletters about the supervision of the Flamanville-3 reactor construction (EPR) ...
The EPR reactor is a pressurised water reactor (PWR) whose design, which has evolved with respect to that of the PWRs currently in operation in France, is intended to meet more stringent safety objectives.
Following the issue of the creation authorisation decree and the building permit, construction of the Flamanville 3 reactor began in September 2007. Initial pouring of concrete for the nuclear island buildings took place in December 2007. Since then, the structural civil engineering work has continued and is now completed. In 2014 and 2015, EDF completed the construction work of the inner containment and then the outer containment of the building designed to house the reactor. In 2014, the first large components (reactor vessel, steam generators, etc.) of the main primary system were introduced into the reactor building and welded to the main pipes of the system. Installation of equipment and components (piping, pumps, cables and electrical and instrumentation & control racks, etc.) has been completed. The main remaining activities concern finishing work on the installation. The start-up tests have progressed, with performance of the cold tests on the NSSS and the containment test in 2018 along with the hot tests performed in 2019 and early 2020. Hot rtests of the nuclear boiler were carried out at the end of 2023, before preparing to load the fuel into the reactor vessel (commissioning) and then ramp up the reactor. In 2020, ASN authorised the arrival of fuel on the site (partial commissioning). It is currently stored in a pool.
EDF must still carry out conformity work on the main steam letdown pipes and carry out the remaining start-up tests in order to prepare the reactor for loading with nuclear fuel (commissioning).
In June 2021, EDF renewed its commissioning authorisation application for the installation. This comprises the safety report, the general operating rules, the on-site emergency plan, the decommissioning plan, an update of the installation’s impact assessment and a risk control study. This application is being examined by ASN, with the support of IRSN. The commissioning authorisation application file was made available to the public in 2023 and 2024. The commissioning authorisation project will be subject to public consultation in the first half of 2024.
ASN oversight concerns different fields:
This oversight is exercised by examining the technical documentation and performing inspections on the site, in the EDF head office departments and on the equipment manufacturers' premises.
ASN is currently continuing these oversight actions so that it can draft a technical opinion concerning the reactor commissioning application.
About two-thirds of the inspections carried out on the Flamanville EPR reactor construction site concern technical subjects in line with the progress of the work and the ongoing activities (mechanical assembly, start-up tests). The other inspections concern cross-cutting subjects (preparation for operation, organisation of occupational radiation protection, environmental protection etc.). These inspections are either carried out with advance notice to the licensee or are unannounced.
ASN also exercises its oversight with regard to labour inspection. ASN conducts inspections, some of which are unannounced, concerning occupational health and safety and the application of labour legislation. ASN works in close cooperation with the other relevant State services: DREETS, URSSAF, etc.
ASN also ensures oversight of the EDF engineering services responsible for carrying out and monitoring the detailed design studies and for monitoring the qualification and manufacturing activities, with performance of regular inspections in these services.
With regard to the manufacture of nuclear pressure equipment, ASN and the accredited organisations review the technical documentation concerning the design and manufacture of this equipment, and monitor its manufacture, particularly in the plants of the manufacturer Framatome, as well as its suppliers and their subcontractors.
Read the newsletters about the supervision of the Flamanville-3 reactor construction (EPR) ...
On 10th April 2007, after consulting ASN, the Government issued the creation authorisation decree for the Flamanville reactor No.3, an EPR (European Pressurized water Reactor) reactor.
ASN's oversight of reactor construction falls within the general framework of the regulations applicable to basic nuclear installations supplemented by several ASN resolutions specifically concerning the EPR construction site (see Regulations tab).
ASN's oversight of the Flamanville reactor 3 construction involves the following activities:
The principle regarding nuclear safety is thatprime responsibility lies with the licensee (EDF).
ASN directly oversees the design and manufacture, particularly by Areva, of the main nuclear pressure equipment (for example: the reactor vessel, the steam generators, and the pressuriser).
ASN is also responsible for labour inspection on the construction site.
ASN receives technical assistance from the IRSN teams in its oversight activities.
With regard to labour inspection, the ASN inspector determines its oversight actions according to information brought to his/her knowledge, worksite progress and the ongoing operations. Oversight hinges around the examination of files, conducting inspections and the various requests made to the labour inspector.
To ensure successful oversight of the construction work, ASN relies primarily on:
These activities mobilise the equivalent of 15 full-time ASN employees, as well as the personnel mobilised by IRSN.
[1] Order of 7th February 2012 setting the general rules concerning basic nuclear installations.
References concerning the Flamanville-3 EPR reactor