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Koeberg remains safe as French probe nuclear reactors – Eskom

Cape Town – Eskom said Koeberg nuclear power station will not be affected by the Areva probe into the irregularities in quality control at its forge in Le Creusot as it uncovered new anomalies in manufacturing records.

"Koeberg was French built and therefore has access to additional detail and intellectual property from (French power utility) EDF and its main supplier, Areva,” explained Sedick Davis, Eskom’s general manager for nuclear projects.

“A structured process of sharing operational experience over two decades means that any problem that occurs at EDF automatically includes Koeberg in the understanding of common causes and the extent of the issue,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “Information was shared in a transparent manner.”

“Eskom used the technical detail provided to analyse its existing components as well as those currently being manufactured for upgrades or maintenance,” he said. “The conclusion is that the Koeberg plant is not affected by the historical manufacturing anomalies that require additional inspections and verification.”

“The Eskom analysis and treatment of this matter is subject to national and international scrutiny by all stakeholders, thereby giving assurance to the South African public that the Koeberg plant remains safe.”

France’s nuclear safety authority ASN in 2016 requested extra checks after an investigation at the new Flamanville found flaws in large steel components made by Areva SA and Japan Casting and Forging Corporation.

Fin24 has been inside both the construction site at Flamanville and the forgery at Le Creusot (see video links below), where EDF and Areva praised the improvements to safety.

WATCH: Meet the French nuclear A-Team

WATCH: Inside Le Creusot

WATCH: Inside Flamanville

Areva, France’s state-owned maker of nuclear reactors, has been reviewing all 9 000 manufacturing records of the forge dating back as far as 1943, including the files of 6 000 nuclear components, a person who remained anonymous told Bloomberg in October.

Additionally, French authorities have also started a preliminary probe into “whether documents were falsified at one of the forges”, FT reported on 8 December.

The probe has seen electricity prices rising across Europe as EDF cut its 2016 output target for a third time in November.

The probe resulted in 18 of 58 French reactors being identified for shutdown and inspection.

Ten reactors have been inspected and ASN has approved start-up. Five more will be inspected within the next few months and three are undergoing additional inspections and analysis before EDF decides how to proceed, Eskom’s Davis explained.

Why Koeberg is safe

Davis said components at Koeberg that could most likely be affected were manufactured by a different process and they were cast not forged.

He said pre-service and in-service inspections of Koeberg components show no flaws and that historical records also show no anomalies or inconsistencies.

“On 3 August 2016 Eskom received official correspondence (from Areva-Creusot) that the Koeberg plant is not affected by the historical anomalies,” he said.

Explaining the French investigation, Davis said that the inspections suggested that certain components might have left the forging facility at Le Creusot with flaws.

“This raised the concern that the problem might not be limited to Flamanville and that other plants could be affected, either through insufficient historical quality assurance or improved analytical techniques in recent times.

“Through detailed investigations and analysis of records dating back to 1965, they identified the series of historical components that had even the smallest likelihood of being affected, and on which plants they are installed.  

“The analysis was extended to include forgings sourced from the Japan Casting and Forging Corporation to ensure that no stone was left unturned.


Here’s a timeline of events:


June 23

The regulator requests investigations at 18 of EDF’s reactors, citing potential anomalies with steam generators used at the facilities. Additional tests are required after issues were discovered at Areva’s new-build project Flamanville-3, which has a similar design. EDF says the reactors are still safe to operate.

July 20

EDF shares fall the most in two weeks after the company cuts its annual nuclear output target. Due to the extended outages needed to demonstrate the steam generators can operate safely, the 2016 target is reduced to 395-400 terawatt-hours from 408-412 terawatt-hours.

August 3

Pira Energy Group data shows that France’s July nuclear output fell to the lowest level in 15 years as seven of 18 Areva-made units potentially affected by steam generator irregularities are kept offline.

September 21

EDF cuts its 2016 nuclear output target for a second time to 380-390 terawatt-hours, while at the same time reducing its profit forecasts for the year amid extended safety checks at two units at its Tricastin station. The year-ahead power price rises to a 9-month high.

October 18

ASN asks EDF to bring forward halts at five reactors to carry out safety checks by January 18, 2017. The utility says it has restarted six reactors after completing inspections, seven awaiting checks.

Grid data shows France produced the most power from fossil fuels for September in 32 years to help meet demand as nuclear generation dropped.

October 31

French power prices for next-month delivery, already at the highest in eight years, gain the most ever in October and also send prices soaring to record levels in Germany and the U.K.

November 2

Start dates for five reactors that had completed safety checks delayed to the end of the year after the regulator requested more information.‎

November 3

EDF shares drop to their lowest level since April after the company revises down its output target for third time to 378-385 terawatt-hours, and cuts its 2016 profit forecast for the second time in less than two months.


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