The EPR in Finland

[dan_b]

The much-delayed, massively over-budget Olkiluoto EPR nuclear power plant has started generating electricity.
The 1.6GW site is currently running at 1GW, with plans to ramp up to full power next month.

Was originally meant to be fully commissioned in 2009!

https://yle.fi/news/3-12616929

[Moxi]

The French must be relieved that its operational at long last- its cost them a lot of business, money and prestige - more so when combined with the problems at their own sites and elsewhere.

Moxi

[dan_b]

Yes I think it'll be a big relief for EDF. Apparently they'll have got back online their whole domestic fleet by the winter - one reactor restart per week starting in October. Flammanville should be coming online late next year, and then they can turn their attentions to Hinkley C and Sizewell C. It wouldn't surprise me if they get another UK site too the way things are going.

[dan_b]

Just found this - India and EDF are intending to sign a deal to build 6x EPRs at a single site - 9.6GW nuclear facility in Jaitapur

https://thebulletin.org/2022/09/french- ... -and-cost/

So it looks like EDF is still pushing the EPR worldwide.

[Mr Gus]

Oh christ, that's a moneypit of disaster, fraud, lax safety, late commissioning & faster decommissioning, terrorist potential, sci-fi & narrowly averted 're-runs of Bhopal type stories that's going to fill the Indian media for the next 25+ years

Thought only the dumb & the criminally minded were going down that route nowadays, ...ah makes sense, flourescent green envelopes & bunga-bunga parties.

Kick backs on those jobs are going to make the Russian military kit nobblers look like saints, ...wonder who on earth will insure those?

[dan_b]

Easy there Gus!

[Moxi]

I suspect the Indians are setting up the deal so that the electricity generated pays for the stations - so all the upfront costs are paid for by EDF and their investors.

Presumably the main consumers of power after completion will be Indian manufacturing companies who will pass the cost of the power on to the end consumer so Europe, North America etc, smart plan - get France to pay to build them and then we all pay a second time to give France their money back! What could possibly go wrong!

Moxi

[nowty]

I suspect the Indians are setting up the deal so that the electricity generated pays for the stations - so all the upfront costs are paid for by EDF and their investors.

Presumably the main consumers of power after completion will be Indian manufacturing companies who will pass the cost of the power on to the end consumer so Europe, North America etc, smart plan - get France to pay to build them and then we all pay a second time to give France their money back! What could possibly go wrong!

Moxi

This is from 2019 so don't know if it's up to date.
https://www.financialexpress.com/indust ... f/1554773/

[Moxi]

Allowing for the vagaries of COVID I suspect the Indian Government will be stretching matters to drastically reduce if not eliminate the sovereign guarantee requirement. After all they have a selection of nuclear power plant designs to go at so why pick the one thats underperforming, difficult to build and demanding commercial terms you don't like?

Until quite recently the Indian governments had been courting Russian reactor designs although I always thought that this was just a rouse given India's position with regards to the non-proliferation treaty.

I guess in truth that we will have to wait and see how this plays out but I for one wouldn't be backing the EPR design based on technology, output and build track record, if it were my decision of course.

Then again if it were my decision, I think I would get the FBR programme completed and fulfil the 3 stage plan of Homi Bhabha and switch India to an energy independent state running on Thorium which would free them from the Uranium economy and go some significant way to meeting the requirements of the proliferation treaty and thus appease other nations as to the intent of their nuclear energy program.

Moxi

[Mr Gus]

Of course sunlight isn't present in india ever, solar is out of the question.

A country that has such a chaotic set up where sticking electrical cables stands (Google it if unsure) ..could you ever trust them to be competent where nuclear safety is concerned!? ..I'd rather not chance it.