EDF has completed the cold functional test phase for the Flamanville EPR

On 6 January 2018, EDF completed the cold functional test phase for the Flamanville EPR. This stage is part of the system performance testing, which started in the first quarter of 2017, to check and test operation of all the EPR systems.

This cold functional test phase, which started on 18 December 2017, saw the successful completion of the leak performance test on the primary system at a pressure greater than 240 bar (higher than the pressure of this system in operation). More than 500 welds were inspected during this hydrostatic testing, supervised by the Nuclear Safety Authority.

EDF is now preparing hot functional testing to be started in July 2018. The objective is to demonstrate the good working order of the plant by testing components with temperature and pressure levels similar to operating conditions.

Altogether, more than 1,000 EDF and industry partner engineers and technicians have been mobilised to perform these system performance tests.

EDF has confirmed the Flamanville 3 project roadmap announced in September 2015 with fuel loading and start-up of the reactor at the end of the last quarter of 2018. The Group has also confirmed the cost of the project set at 10.5 billion Euros¹.

¹ In Euros in 2015, excluding interim interest.