Name and Location
Flamanville 3 European pressurised reactor (EPR) project, France.

Client
Électricité de France (EDF).

Project Description
The Flamanville EPR is the first nuclear power station to be built in France for 15 years and the first third-generation-type plant.

The nuclear plant will have a net electricity output of 1 650 MWe.

Value
EDF has revised the cost of the project upwards from €6-billion to €8-billion.

Factors that have influenced the cost of the project include the development of the boiler design, additional engineering studies, the integration of new regulatory requirements and lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. The cost update also relates to the additional costs and technical contingencies, such as the replacement of 45 consoles and the knock-on effects of this in terms of work scheduling and the financial impact of extending the construction deadlines.

Duration
Work began at the site in December 2007 and first production is scheduled for 2017, a year later than initially announced.

Latest Developments
Preparatory work with regards to the project review that will take place at the end of November with all suppliers has shown a shift in the construction schedule EDF has said. The Flamanville plant is now scheduled to start in 2017 instead of the earlier planned 2016.
According to EDF, the delayed completion of the Flamanville EPR is as a result  of difficulties encountered by supplier Areva in the delivery of certain pieces of equipment and the "implementation of the regulation on equipment under nuclear pressure (ESPN)."

Areva has had problems delivering the reactor vessel head and the internal structures of the vessel. EDF has said that Areva has also provided an update on the ongoing analysis performed on the steam generators' welding defect, on qualification tests of the pressuriser valves, and on a detailed metallurgical analysis of the vessel head material.

With regards to problems in implementing ESPN standards, EDF says that this applies to "a set of assembly [sic] carried out by Areva and its subcontractors."

This new information will be shared with all suppliers and will be integrated in the construction schedule, to adapt and coordinate the work on site.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Areva (nuclear steam supply system), Bouygues (civil work) and Alstom (turbine island).

On Budget and on Time?
The project is on schedule; however, its budget has been revised upwards by €2-billion.

Contact Details for Project Information
EDF, Véronique Ferdinand, tel +33 2 33 78 59 93 or email Veronique.ferdinand@edf.fr.
Areva, Alexandre Thébault, tel +331 34 96 12 15, fax +331 34 96 16 54 or email press@areva.com.
Bouygues, tel +33 1 30 60 33 00, fax +33 1 30 60 48 61 or email communication@bouygues-construction.com.
Alstom, tel +33 1 41 49 20 00.