AREVA has requested authorization from the French Nuclear Safety Authority to resume welding on Flamanville reactor vessel head

News brief

AREVA / REACTEUR ET SERVICES

October 15, 2011

AREVA has requested authorization to carry out in its Chalon Saint-Marcel plant, operations on the Flamanville reactor vessel head in order to restore compliance.

The interruption in production follows as of today the discovery, by AREVA, of discrepancies in certain welds. The group had immediately informed its customer EDF and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and has developed the technical solutions for restoring compliance, and enabling plant construction schedule to be met.

AREVA’s solution to resume production was designed to guaranty the vessel head’s compliance with the most stringent safety standards imposed by the ASN. The next step is notification by the ASN of its position regarding the proposed solution.

The group proposes that future operations be subject to reinforced control by AREVA and monitoring by the ASN. Moreover, on completion, they will be subject to a final compliance approval by the Nuclear Safety Authority.

AREVA attaches the highest importance to the performance of its quality system, which has enabled a very quick response time in accordance with transparency and safety requirements.