The French nuclear fleet is still under close surveillance. A few days after the publication of its annual report, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) highlighted the Dampierre-en-Burly power plant in Loiret on Wednesday during a point dedicated to facilities in the Centre-Val region. -Loire, seen by the Parisian.
This warning is in line with a series of complications for EDF power plants. After the discovery at the end of 2021 of a microfissure in one of its most recent and powerful plants, the electrician had launched an important control and repair plan, revised last December, which led to the stoppage of numerous reactors in middle of an energy crisis.
ASN points to “organizational failures”
Regarding the Dampierre-en-Burly nuclear power plant, ASN highlights that “in terms of nuclear safety, performance in the normal operating area deteriorated markedly in 2022, with a number of significant events declared during the year (including some ten level 1 on the INES scale) among the highest of EDF power plants”.
The Authority points the finger at “organizational failures linked to documentary and communication deficiencies between the operational teams” and criticizes “the management of periodic tests”, also “long overdue” in 2022.
The plant is not doing any better in terms of facility maintenance, also “below the national average.” “The year 2022 was marked by the occurrence of several equipment unavailability that required reactor withdrawals and reflected a reliability problem of this equipment,” says the ASN.
The plant manager called
As a result of this performance below national standards, the director of the Dampierre-en-Burly power station was summoned to ASN headquarters on April 17 to report. And obviously it was compelling.
However, the site is now under increased surveillance by the Authority. “ASN will carry out several inspections in 2023 with the aim of verifying the implementation of the reactive action plan and judging its effectiveness,” the regional report concludes.
The only bright spot on the scoreboard for the Dampierre-en-Burly power station, its environmental performance “generally joins EDF’s overall assessment.”
Source: BFM TV
