Cracks in piping haunt EDF again: French nuclear power faces another wave of inspections
French energy group EDF is once again facing the recurrence of stress corrosion cracking in the piping systems of its nuclear power plants, including components that have already been repaired. Reactor Civaux 2 underwent a detailed inspection during a scheduled outage, revealing signs of a possible recurring defect. Similar problems previously led to a sharp drop in nuclear generation in France, significantly affecting wholesale electricity prices in Europe.
EDF, the operator of France’s nuclear fleet, is once again dealing with problems caused by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in piping systems used to cool nuclear reactors.
This time, signs of cracking appeared at reactor Civaux 2, despite the fact that the unit was repaired for SCC back in 2022. The recurrence of the defect has raised questions about the long-term technical reliability of the technologies used and the scope of preventive measures.
EDF has therefore launched comprehensive non-destructive testing during the planned outage at Civaux 2 and expanded monitoring of several other nuclear units to ensure safe operation and prevent unplanned outages.
Although the company has not yet provided specific information about the extent of the damage found, experts say it is a key indicator that the corrosion phenomenon may be spreading to other units as well.
Risk to electricity prices in Europe
In 2022, extensive SCC problems led to a sharp decline in EDF’s nuclear generation, the biggest in 34 years. The drop forced EDF to take a significant number of reactors offline, resulting in record financial losses for the company, increased France’s dependence on electricity imports and a significant rise in wholesale electricity prices in Europe.
In 2024, EDF launched an ambitious inspection and repair programme, aiming to complete all work by the end of 2025. The latest developments, however, suggest that the methodology and frequency of inspections will most likely need to be reassessed, including for units that have already been inspected.
Translation disclaimer
This article is a machine translation of the Czech original and has not yet been fully reviewed. In case of any doubt, please refer to the Czech version.
