The Flamanville 3 EPR nuclear reactor in France has begun operations after receiving a divergence agreement from the French nuclear safety authority. The reactor will undergo a series of tests, including a power output of 25% before being connected to the national electricity grid. The reactor’s power output will be gradually increased in successive stages over several months.
The Flamanville 3 EPR is the first of its kind in France, following the commissioning of EPR reactors in China and Finland. The reactor’s construction began in December 2007 and has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
However, the reactor has already encountered a setback, shutting down automatically just a day after starting up for the first time. The shutdown was due to the reactor’s safety system working as intended, and staff are currently conducting technical checks and analysis before restarting the reactor.
