French electrical energy group EDF mentioned Thursday that shutdowns of 4 nuclear reactors could be prolonged for a number of weeks due to corrosion issues, probably placing extra upward strain on costs as winter approaches.
France generates some 70 % of its electrical energy from a fleet of 56 reactors, however 32 are presently offline both for routine upkeep or to judge the corrosion dangers.
EDF mentioned the stress corrosion — which produces tiny cracks — was discovered at 4 websites close to welds on pipes of cooling circuits which are essential in case of shutdowns or accidents, prompting shutdowns and inspections of eight comparable reactors.
The 4 reactors are actually set to renew output between November 1 and January 23 of subsequent yr.
Total output for 2022 is now anticipated on the decrease finish of its forecast of 280 to 300 terawatt-hours (TWh), an EDF spokesman advised AFP.
If its personal manufacturing is inadequate for France’s wants, EDF imports electrical energy from elsewhere in Europe, the place costs are hovering as Russia clamps down on exports of pure gasoline, additionally a primary supply for electrical energy.
The emergency work added to the monetary woes of the closely indebted state-controlled firm, which the federal government now plans to totally nationalise because it strikes to relaunch France’s nuclear business.
President Emmanuel Macron known as earlier this yr for the development of as much as 14 new reactors to energy the nation’s transition away from fossil fuels.
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