ASN has decided to lift its emergency crisis organisation and has temporarily classified the event at the level 1

On 5th April 2012, at around 12 :00, ASN was informed by EDF that a fire had started in the reactor n°2 building of the Penly NPP (North-West of France). The reactor automatically shut down.

EDF teams and the local firemen brigades entered the reactor building and extinguished burning oil. The firemen ensured the fire was totally extinguished. The event conducted EDF to put in action an emergency plan in the eventuality of fire.

On 5th April 2012, at around 07:30 PM, following the event of the afternoon, ASN was informed by EDF that there was an abnormal leak on the primary circuit of the reactor n°2 of the Penly NPP. This defect caused a water leak above the normal values. This leak was collected by dedicated circuits.

The situation conducted EDF to apply incidental procedures to run its installation. This has reduced pressure and temperature of water in the primary circuit. These actions have already reduced the leak and return to dedicated values.

In the current situation, ASN has decided to lift its emergency crisis organisation but keeps in contact with EDF and IRSN (Institute for radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety).

This incident had no consequence on environment. ASN has temporarily classified the event at the level 1 on INES scale.

The ASN regional team in Caen will perform an inspection on friday 6 April on the site of Penly NPP to analyse the causes of this event.

 Press contact: Evangelia Petit, Press Department, tel.: 01 40 19 86 61, evangelia.petit@asn.fr