Compliance of Flamanville 3 equipment with the new Order on nuclear pressure equipment

The manufacturing processes used on Flamanville 3 reactor vessel are compliant with the mechanical requirements implemented and validated for the French nuclear reactor program. The robustness of this process is demonstrated through the 1,700 nuclear reactor years of good operations.

However, since the 2005 new Order on nuclear pressure equipment ("ESPN Order"), the French nuclear safety authority (ASN) is requesting for Flamanville 3 equipment to comply with new mechanical specifications.

AREVA and EDF are currently preparing the work on a new series of tests aimed at demonstrating the compliance of Flamanville 3 equipment to these new standards. In accordance with the regulation, this program will be submitted to ASN for approval.

On the basis of the information available at this stage, EDF can confirm that work can continue on Flamanville's EPR site.