[en] As the British government postponed its decision about the launching of the construction of the Hinkley Point nuclear reactors, this article outlines that this delay is logical due to the political importance of the decision, and, as some experts notice, chances of cancellation are few but real. Discussions concern the participation of the Chinese company CGN, and also the level of the return on investment guaranteed to EDF. Besides, the article outlines the stakes related to this project in terms of electricity production (25 TWh) and of investments in economy of South-West England. The article also comments the role of the Chinese company in this project, its partnership with EDF for the construction of nuclear reactors in China, and its ambitions in Europe

[en] While Areva keeps on loosing money (billions of euros for 2014), the saving of this company is at stake. Staff is already planned to be reduced in La Hague, and other staff reductions might occur after the failure of a previous strategic plan. Various activities could be sold (dismantling, mining). The article outlines the difficult relationships between Areva and EDF and the problems also faced by EDF. Some actors think that Areva should remain independent from EDF in order to be free to compete on international bidding. The rapprochement between these two companies is said to be necessary for the Ministry but seems very difficult to achieve

[en] This article highlights that the dismantling of French nuclear installations will generate huge volumes of radioactive wastes and that France may lack space to store them. The Cigeo project (underground storage) only concerns 0.2 per cent of the nuclear waste volume produced by France in 50 years. If storage solutions exist for less active wastes, they will soon be insufficient, notably because of the quantity of wastes produced by the dismantling of existing reactors and fuel processing plants. Different assessments of these volumes are evoked. In order to store them, the ANDRA made a second call for innovating projects which would enable a reduction of this volume by 20 to 30 per cent. The article also evokes projects selected after the first call for projects. They mainly focus on nuclear waste characterization which will result in a finer management of wastes regarding their storage destination. Cost issues and the opposition of anti-nuclear NGOs are still obstacles to the development of new sites

[en] This article comments the results of recent invitation to tender for several offshore wind farms in France. Three sites were attributed to the Eolien Maritime France consortium (EDF, Dong Energy and Alstom), one to Ailes Maritimes (Iberdrola, Eole-Res and Areva). Huge investments, thousands of jobs and the construction of new factories are at stake. Areva and even more GDF Suez, the main looser of this tender process, feel that the choice has been made in favour of EDF. As these projects are still to be confirmed, others are foreseen to reach an offshore production of 6000 MW. French actors will also have to conquer foreign markets, notably in Great-Britain

[en] After having evoked a science-fictional scenario of a cyber attack of a nuclear reactor, but also recent and actual, and sometimes successful cyber attacks against reactor control systems or uranium enrichment centrifuges, this article notices that authorities and bodies in charge of nuclear activities have become aware of this threat only for a short time, and that the threat is increased because of the increasing role of digital compounds in recent reactors. Therefore, a definition of good practices is emerging. In a brief interview, a manager of Assystem outlines that data theft is the main risk

[en] This article proposes an overview of the development of the use of various and new digital technologies of information and communication by EDF to train its nuclear operators, field technicians who are maintaining nuclear power plants, personnel in charge of risk management, and so on. Trainees are using tablets with augmented reality software, serious games, virtual reality helmets, and also digital simulators to learn how to control a reactor. More practical training also exists: people are taught how to practically and correctly assemble tubes for example

[en] A first article outlines and comments the difficulties faced in the development and construction of the EPR which seems to be born under an evil star, and which resulted in a loss of credibility for the French nuclear industry. The author evokes various steps in the design and test of various components which finally produced important delays and high costs. Moreover, the reactor high power seems not to be adapted to current market status and needs. The reorganisation of the French nuclear sector also produced an unfavourable environment (the dismantling of Areva into two companies is briefly evoked). Now, the objective for EDF is to try to optimize the reactor production and reduce costs by 25 to 30 per cent. A second article addresses the situation of the Flamanville EPR construction which is now six years late. The author proposes an overview of the differences between the various parts and components of the power station: the control room is operational whereas many parts and rooms are still under construction. A new management of construction organisation has been set up. The third article addresses the situation of the British Hinkley Point EPR project. Due to the difficulties met in Finland and in Flamanville, a new financial drift would be a catastrophe, and as many aspects of the project are already well defined, EDF keeps on stating that the decision to build these two EPRs is about to be taken, as it is in fact always delayed. The last article is an interview in which a manager of an important nuclear engineering company comments the role of the French nuclear reactor model in the world, the development of concepts of small modular reactors, and the impact of EPR construction difficulties on the image of the French nuclear industry in the world

[en] This article comments the perspectives and consequences of the order for two nuclear reactors by Great-Britain. These EPR reactors will be operated by EDF and are an opportunity as well as a relief for Areva: it is the first order for an EPR reactor since 2007. This contract which arrives after studies started in 2011 is also very good news for the whole French nuclear sector

[en] This article first gives an overview of problems faced by Areva during the past years: financial losses, new delay for the Finnish EPR and for the French one in Flamanville, delay for the construction of the Jules Horowitz reactor, bad investments, high expenses in offshore wind energy and solar energy. The second part comments the decision taken by the government for a closer relationship between Areva and EDF, the perspectives for Areva associated with the extension of French reactor lifetime, new orientation of activities and definition of a new strategy for Areva

[en] This article comments the possible consequences of the request made by the ASN to perform, within three months, additional controls on primary bottoms of some steam generators in five reactors as these bottoms could be affected by a high carbon concentration. This means that this reactors (Fessenheim 1, Tricastin 2 and 4, Gravelines 4, and Civaux 1) will have to be stopped. These operations are planned by EDF between October 2016 and January 2017. This defect concerns in fact 18 reactors (12 out of them are equipped by a Japanese provider of Areva) and has been identified on the Flamanville EPR vessel. The article recalls that, after this, EDF and Areva performed an audit on their installations. This audit resulted in the creation of 9,000 fabrication files. 6,000 concern the nuclear industry, and some of them refer to pieces produced in 1965. These serial stops raise the question of energy production this winter, and is also a matter of concern for the electric power market