Important French nuclear milestone: EDF begins fuel loading at Flamanville 3

Construction of the new French EPR nuclear unit is nearing completion. Technicians have begun loading fuel into the Flamanville 3 reactor, with the nuclear regulator’s approval. The French began building the 1650 MW unit in 2007, and it was due to be completed in 2012. After a series of delays, plans now call for the new unit to be connected to the grid this summer.

French energy company EDF announced that it had received permission from the nuclear regulator (Nuclear Safety Authority - ASN) to load fuel into the Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor.

This is an important milestone for the 1650 MW (gross) EPR unit on its way to commercial operation. After fuel loading, the reactor will undergo a series of inspections, reach criticality and then be tested at various power levels.

"EDF teams began loading nuclear fuel into the reactor vessel on 8 May 2024 at 2 p.m. The entire operation will take several days, and a total of 241 fuel assemblies will be loaded into the reactor vessel," EDF said in a press release.

The regulator’s approval followed a public consultation held between 27 March and 17 April. In addition to granting permission, the authority also issued a set of technical requirements for conducting and monitoring start-up tests.

The operator must also take into account lessons learned from the commissioning of other EPR units. The first EPR was commissioned by China in 2018 at Taishan 1, while the most recent to enter service was Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 last April.

Commissioning 17 years after construction began

Construction of the third unit at the Flamanville power plant in Normandy, France, was launched by Areva in December 2007. Under the original plans, the unit was due to start generating electricity in 2012, and construction was expected to cost EUR 3 billion (around CZK 75 billion).

After a series of delays, it now looks as though EDF will commission the unit 12 years behind schedule. The latest cost estimate puts the figure at EUR 13.2 billion (just under CZK 330 billion).