EDF Struggles With Nuclear Reactor Maintenance, Safety Body Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/edf-struggles-with-nuclear-reactor-maintenance-safety-body-says.html
EDF Struggles With Nuclear Reactor Maintenance, Safety Body Says
By Tara Patel 2014-09-15T10:37:25Z
Electricite de France SA, the worlds biggest nuclear power generator, is struggling to keep up with the maintenance requirements of its aging reactors, according to the regulator.
The state-controlled utility, whose 58 reactors generate three-quarters of French power, has embarked on a round of repairs and safety improvements to meet tougher standards after Japans Fukushima meltdown and increasing demands of old plants.
There are delays and complications and some could affect safety, Pierre-Franck Chevet, head of the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire, said in an interview in Paris.
EDF is at a crossroads as lawmakers consider a bill that could lead to the closure of reactors before 2025 in a bid to lower Frances reliance on atomic power. Over the same period, the utility has said it needs to spend 55 billion euros ($71 billion) to improve safety and extend the lives of plants. EDF missed an output target last year, blaming long halts.
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