The French nuclear watchdog has reportedly taken a tough stance in its aim to address concerns, by suspending construction work at the Flamanville European pressurized reactor complex in northern France.
The Nuclear Safety Authority (NSA) subsequently allowed EDF, the operator of the Flamanville reactor, to resume construction after three weeks. The watchdog had earlier expressed concerns over quality control and the rigidity of the reactor structure’s iron frame, being built by French construction major Bouygues.
Andre-Claude Lacoste, chairman of the NSA, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that, while there were no concerns over the safety of the reactor building, there were issues with lack of quality and rigor. He noted that NSA’s concerns have been acknowledged and necessary measures are being taken to resolve the issues.
