ASN convened the Advisory Committee concerning the anomaly affecting the Flamanville EPR reactor vessel

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On 30 September 2015, ASN convened the Advisory Committee for nuclear pressure equipment (GP ESPN) for the anomaly affecting the composition of the steel in certain areas of the vessel closure head and bottom head of the Flamanville EPR reactor vessel. Representatives of the HCTISN, the ANCCLI and foreign safety regulators concerned by the construction of an EPR attended this session as observers.

In late 2014, Areva informed ASN that tests performed on a vessel head representative of that intended for the Flamanville EPR showed the presence of an area with a high carbon concentration leading to lower than expected mechanical properties. Measurements confirmed the presence of this anomaly in the closure head and bottom head of the Flamanville EPR vessel.

Further to these results, Areva sent ASN a file presenting the envisaged demonstration approach to confirm the adequacy of the mechanical properties of the material, based in particular on a new programme of tests.

The GP ESPN submitted its opinion and its recommendations to ASN on the approach being envisaged by Areva.

On the basis of this opinion in particular, ASN will shortly issue a position statement on the approach envisaged by Areva to demonstrate particular, ASN will shortly issue a position statement on the approach envisaged by Areva to demonstrate the adequacy of the mechanical properties of the material and will make this position public.