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 2016.

Latest Developments
The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) has been lowered into place.

The installation of the component started on January 22 and was completed on January 24.

The RPV was delivered to the construction site in October 2013, however, its installation was postponed by a few weeks, owing to concerns by the French nuclear regulator over compliance issues with the unit’s polar crane and associated heavy lifting equipment.

The placement of the RPV marks the ramp-up of the installation work in the nuclear island at the Flamanville EPR construction site.

In the coming months, Areva and EDF will install the the steam generators and the pressuriser of the nuclear steam supply system. The EPR reactor is set to generate its first kilowatt-hours in 2016.

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.