After 17 years of construction and 12 years of delay, the EPR nuclear reactor in Flamanville (Manche), the most powerful reactor in France, was connected to the national electricity network this Saturday, December 21.
At 11:48 a.m., it “started to produce its first electrons. This is a historic event for the entire French nuclear industry. The last start-up of a reactor in France dates back to that of Civaux 2, 25 years ago” , indicated EDF CEO Luc Rémont, on the professional social network LinkedIn.
This connection is a “great moment”, immediately reacted President Emmanuel Macron, in a message also posted on LinkedIn and on X. “One of the most powerful nuclear reactors in the world, the Flamanville EPR, has just been be connected to the electricity network. Reindustrializing to produce low-carbon energy is French ecology. It strengthens our competitiveness and protects the climate,” said the Head of State.
This first connection of a new reactor in France since 1999 was initially planned for Friday morning, but had been postponed by several hours. After the fuel loading carried out in May and the first nuclear reaction within the reactor at the beginning of September, the coupling to the network is the third stage of entry into operation of Flamanville 3, a new generation pressurized water reactor, which must supply electricity approximately two million households.