Nuclear powerFrance’s flagship nuclear power reactor hobbled by mishaps, delays

France’s position as a leader in the nuclear energy industry is being undermined by the country’s pending flagship nuclear reactor, which may be delayed by another year following a series of setbacks.

In 2005 the French government approved the construction of the first third-generation nuclear reactor at Flamanville. The third-generation European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), built by Areva and EDF, was meant to be in operation by 2012 and its designers claimed it would be one of the safest— built to resist the impact of a commercial airliner crash — and the most energy efficient reactors in the world. EPR was to represent France’s nuclear renaissance, a vision to replace the country’s aging nuclear plants over time.

The renaissance, however, has faced several setbacks, including the death of a construction worker in 2011. The most recent upset came last week when regulators revealed that “a very serious fault” had been detected in the steel of the “pressure vessel” — a key component of the reactor. “It is a serious fault, even a very serious fault, because it involves a crucial part of the nuclear reactor,” said Pierre-Franck Chevet, head of France’s nuclear safety agency (ASN).

The Local reports that the “fault” means construction is unlikely to be completed before 2018 and making matters worse, the initial 3.3 billion euro budget has been increased to nine billion euros and counting. Tests will need to be carried out on the pressure vessel steel, and should the component fail to meet safety standards, a new one will have to be built.

“That’s a very difficult operation in terms of costs and time,” said Chevet.

The steel vessel weighs around 425 tons and stand roughly eleven meters high; it could take a year just to construct a new one. Some industry insiders have even suggested that if the steel vessel needs to be replaced, then the whole project could be dropped.

British officials with the Office for Nuclear Regulation are waiting to hear the results of the steel vessel’s safety tests because the same steel has been used to build two vessels designed for the planned EPR nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in the United Kingdom. The reactors are scheduled to be built by 2023 and supply six percent of the UK’s power. Britons who oppose the Hinkley Point plan say the news from Flamanville should discourage the completion of the two reactors. “The disastrous Flamanville project certainly shouldn’t be an example that the U.K. government should be looking to follow,” Allan Jeffrey from Stop Hinkley told the Local. “There are so many other quicker and cheaper ways to get energy rather than waiting for all these problems, which come one after another to be sorted out.”

Environmentalist groups are capitalizing on the news of the steel vessel, using its safety concerns to promote anti-nuclear energy agenda. “This is clearly the knock-out blow for the EPR reactor,” said Yannick Rousselet from Greenpeace. “What foreign client would want to purchase a reactor of this type, if even France itself is not able to complete the construction?” “It must be stopped immediately so there is no more wasting of public funds on this industrial nightmare,” said Rousselet, who added that France should be concentrating resources on finding renewable energy solutions.

France’s Minister of Ecology, Ségolène Royal, has reached out to reassure citizens and potential clients of the third generation EPR that the steel vessel might simply need “adjustments.” “Additional tests will take place. Those results will be made public in the autumn and then work will resume,” said Royal. Areva already has orders for EPR reactors from both American and Chinese clients.