Update 22 November 2016
ONR has been keeping this situation under review. EdF has sent its own team of specialists to the Le Creusot works to audit every one of these manufacturing files for these forgings against their own lifetime records. ONR has reviewed this audit work and found it to be thorough.
ONR additionally undertook its own independent sample the manufacturing records, sending its own specialists to the Le Creusot works. This means that all of the manufacturing files for components supplied to Sizewell have now been reviewed for anomalies.
The licensee’s audit and the independent ONR sample has found nothing that challenges the continued safe operation of the reactor. Combined with the results of the comprehensive in-service inspections from recent and previous outages, this provides us with confidence in the quality and continued safety of the forgings supplied for Sizewell B.
Update: 3 June 2016
Areva has confirmed that the reactor components supplied to Sizewell B by its Le Creusot forge facility are not implicated as a result of its recent review of historical records. Its review has highlighted anomalies and omissions in documentation associated with components supplied to other operators in France, and we will continue to monitor the situation, liaising with the French nuclear regulator, ASN.
ONR completed an independent review of the lifetime records held by EdF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited for the reactor components supplied to Sizewell B by Areva’s Le Creusot forge facility in France and no deficiencies were identified. Combined with the results of the comprehensive in-service inspections from the current and previous outages and third party inspections that were completed during manufacture, this provides us with confidence in the quality and continued safety of the forgings supplied for Sizewell B.
ENDS (Updated 3 June 2016)
ONR has been advised by the French nuclear regulator, Autorite de Surete Nucleaire (ASN), and EDF, of possible inconsistencies, modifications or omissions in the quality documentation associated with forged components manufactured by Areva at Le Creusot Forge in France.
ONR is engaged with ASN and EDF concerning the reports of anomalies and inconsistencies in quality documentation.
Areva is in the process of completing the characterisation of these historical irregularities and their consequences, and has committed to contact affected foreign customers by 31 May. We will await the conclusion of the Areva review before deciding whether there is a need for any specific intervention in the UK.
Our current understanding is that the irregularities occurred prior to any procurement related to Hinkley Point C.
Sizewell B is the only UK power station reactor that has a small number of reactor components supplied by the Areva facility. This reactor is currently shutdown for its scheduled outage and we will be seeking the necessary assurances for the reactor components before we permission the restart of the Sizewell B reactor.