They land by dozens on planes, coming from the United States. Workers specializing in high-precision welding arrived in France at the beginning of October. Welders from the American company Westinghouse, urgently hired by EDF to repair the corrosion of several nuclear reactors. In total, there are more than a hundred, according to EDF, “in training”. The welds to be made in the pipes of the security system are complex. Its level of precision requires “repeating the gesture”, we explain at EDF.
They will intervene in the next few days to re-weld the cut and revised sections. In particular, in the two reactors at Civaux (Vienne) and Chooz (Ardennes) where these first corrosions were detected at the beginning of the year. As well as at Penly in Normandy. Westinghouse welders will work for several months on the nuclear fleet. The Chooz plant will restart in December and the Civaux plant in January.
These American “fixers” will replace French welders from companies like Endel who are already working on the Tricastin, Bugey, Cattenom and Chinon reactors. Corrosion was not detected in the first three, but since the pipes were cut to check them, they must be re-welded. On the other hand, minor corrosion was confirmed at Chinon. These four reactors must be restarted within a month.
A training school will be opened soon
The choice of Westinghouse welders is not insignificant. According to experts, they have better welding techniques and tools than in France. The company is also a historical service provider for EDF. Its technology (pressurized water) has equipped almost all French EDF reactors for forty years.
EDF has had a shortage of welders for several years. Its general director, Jean-Bernard Levy, had estimated in early September that its formation could not be relaunched without the prospect of a new nuclear fleet in France.
Last year, the group joined forces with Orano (ex-Areva) and Naval Group, a manufacturer of nuclear submarines, to launch a training school for welding trades. It is being created in Cherbourg, one of the cradles of civil and military nuclear energy. The first trainees will begin their training in a few weeks, but won’t be operational for several years. However, they will be ready for construction of the first EPR reactors at Penly, with construction scheduled to start in 2027 at the earliest.
Source: BFM TV
