Print this pageSend to a friend ShareThis page RSS links

Press Release

China: the construction of the EPR reactor Unit 1 at Taishan takes a major step forward with the installation of the vessel

EDF
06/05/2012
Taïshan 1 : Mise en place de la cuve du réacteur Lowering of the vessel into the Unit reactor building.

Paris, June 5, 2012 - The construction of the EPR reactor at Taishan in China, coordinated by EDF, CGNPC* and AREVA, has passed a key stage in its development with the lowering of the vessel into the Unit 1 reactor building, after which it was installed in its final location in the reactor pit.

The positioning of this steel component - weighing more than 420 tons, with a diameter of 5.3 metres and 10.6 metres high - marks the culmination of numerous civil engineering and assembly works undertaken since the metal dome was placed on top of the reactor building at the end of October 2011.

This important stage was coordinated by the project manager, Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company (TNPJVC: a joint venture owned at 70% by CGNPC1 and at 30 % by EDF), with technical support provided by local AREVA teams. This operation marks the start of works for the installation of the nuclear steam supply system (apart from the vessel, the 4 steam generators, pressuriser, the 4 primary motorised pump units and pipework), to be undertaken in parallel with the installation of the equipment and auxiliary systems.

David Emond, Taishan Project Manager at AREVA, stated: "The installation of the vessel for the first EPR reactor at Taishan power plant under the best conditions initiates an important new phase in the development of the site. With the success of this key operation, we have taken a further step towards the commissioning of the most powerful nuclear reactor in China."

* CGNPC: China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the European energy market, is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 96.5% of the electricity output is CO2-free. EDF's transmission and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 27.9 million customers in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of € 65.3 billion in 2011, of which 43.1% was achieved outside of France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.
Contacts
Press:
Alison Marquilly +33 (0)1 40 42 15 76

Analysts and Investors:
Carine de Boissezon +33 (1) 40 42 45 53
David Newhouse (US investors) +33 (1) 40 42 32 45
Download the press release (format pdf51 Kb)
Subjects: Finance Industry International EDF Group Production

Taking a closer look