The disturbing internal memo EDF NPP – The Point

The France-she runs a serious nuclear danger? So says the Journal of Energy, which has obtained an internal memo of EDF. This Weeder reliability of emergency generators which are expected to provide the necessary current to the reactors in case of power failure in our 19 nuclear power plants. These diesel engines are about to take over in case of a power cut. Their role is crucial. They should allow to continue to ensure the cooling of the reactor

For the full revision of 2014, none of these backup systems has been classified ” correct state. ” 42.9% of them are “monitoring”, 43.9% are considered “degraded” and finally, 13.2% are in a state qualified as “unacceptable”. These classifications are made from multiple criteria and identified recurring problems are “air leakage”, “oil” or “fuel”.

reactors used during the storm of 1999

The absence of these generators can be dramatic. That was the case on 11 March 2011, the backup systems at Fukushima had just not restart after the tsunami against the Japanese coast. This incident was caused when defective cooling of the central and melting the heart of the reactor, and therefore the disaster that was followed.

In France, there is no risk of tsunami but that does not mean that we are immune to a similar incident. In late 1999, the Martin storm caused a power surge on the power grid south-western France. The Blayais nuclear power plant (Gironde) had known then the emergency shutdown of two reactors and the start of its diesel systems.

EDF “irresponsible”

Le Parisien, Philippe Sasseigne, director of nuclear generation EDF France, recognizes the need to “replace some components” installed on these plants that are already thirty years of life and says that work is underway. The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has, in turn, EDF “has improved” on the issue of the status of its generators.

Nuclear Exit Network denounces EDF irresponsible behavior in a statement and considers that this note “reinforces the need to stop the aging reactors, those who have exceeded their operating life initially assigned.” The group also challenges the Minister of Ecology, Ségolène Royal: “It is unacceptable to continue the indulgence a company which endangers the French and conceals such information on the state of degradation of equipment,” denounces organization.