Nuclear reactor cost soars 20%
Cost of building next generation power station in Normandy rises to €4 billion.
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART nuclear power station being built by EDF at Flamanville in Le Manche Normandy has risen by 20%.
The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) power station is now expected to cost €4 billion, up from an original €3.3 billion.
This could have a knock-on effect on the price of electricty it will produce – up to €55/megawatt hour compared to a planned €46.
The rise is seen as a blow to the competitivity of nuclear-produced electricity.
While the increase is said to be down to technical difficulties encountered on the building site, the contruction company denied the project was suffering delays and said it was still on course for a 2012 opening after 54 months’ work.
Current nuclear power stations are expected to have reached the end of their useful lives around 2020. A number of “third-generation” stations, like Flamanville, must be up-and-running by then if France is to retain its energy independence.
This latest technology is also due to be exported abroad – including to the UK, where EDF has now taken over British Energy, which runs eight of the 11 British power stations.
Power stations like the Flamanville one will be constructed to replace old UK ones.
Photo:Afp/Kenzo Tribouillard
