ASN demands temporary closure of nuclear plant in SE France
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-09-29 03:54:14 | Editor: huaxia

File photo taken on March 15, 2011 shows the nuclear plant in Belleville-sur-Loire, central France. (AFP/ ALAIN JOCARD)

PARIS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) on Thursday asked EDF, the country's utility firm, to temporarily close four reactors of Tricastin nuclear power plant in southeastern France "as rapidly as possible."

ASN's decision came after EDF notified last month "a significant safety event," related with risk of failure of a part of the embankment of the Donzere-Mondragon canal with regard to the most severe earthquakes studied in the nuclear safety case.

The nuclear safety watchdog considered that the collected elements provided by EDF "are unable to rule out the risk in the short term."

Furthermore, it noted that the resulting flooding could lead to a nuclear fuel melt accident in the nuclear plant's four reactors and would make it particularly difficult to implement on-site and off-site emergency management resources.

As a result, EDF, the country's leading company which operates nuclear facility, has been asked to conduct more geotechnical investigations in a bid to have further details on the composition of the concerned embankment before the reactors are restarted.

In a press release, EDF said it would implement ASN decision "without undue delay," although it found unnecessary to close them over the works' period.

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ASN demands temporary closure of nuclear plant in SE France

Source: Xinhua 2017-09-29 03:54:14

File photo taken on March 15, 2011 shows the nuclear plant in Belleville-sur-Loire, central France. (AFP/ ALAIN JOCARD)

PARIS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) on Thursday asked EDF, the country's utility firm, to temporarily close four reactors of Tricastin nuclear power plant in southeastern France "as rapidly as possible."

ASN's decision came after EDF notified last month "a significant safety event," related with risk of failure of a part of the embankment of the Donzere-Mondragon canal with regard to the most severe earthquakes studied in the nuclear safety case.

The nuclear safety watchdog considered that the collected elements provided by EDF "are unable to rule out the risk in the short term."

Furthermore, it noted that the resulting flooding could lead to a nuclear fuel melt accident in the nuclear plant's four reactors and would make it particularly difficult to implement on-site and off-site emergency management resources.

As a result, EDF, the country's leading company which operates nuclear facility, has been asked to conduct more geotechnical investigations in a bid to have further details on the composition of the concerned embankment before the reactors are restarted.

In a press release, EDF said it would implement ASN decision "without undue delay," although it found unnecessary to close them over the works' period.

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