British Energy News
EDF welcomes positive progress with the regulators' reactor approval process
27th November 2009
EDF welcomes the publication of the Step 3 report of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) of the EPR technology by the Health and Safety Executive. This marks the mid-way point in the project and indicates that the process is making good progress.
The HSE has scheduled publication of its final conclusions on the EPR design mid 2011. We acknowledge the thoroughness of the process and have committed to resolving any of the ongoing issues noted in the report within the timescale agreed.
According to the HSE’s statement, their work in Step 3 has further confirmed their confidence that the EPR can be suitable for construction on licensed sites in the UK.
Furthermore, the HSE has stated that they are encouraged by the positive response made by EDF and AREVA to the Control & Instrumentation regulatory issue raised during the process and that they anticipate that the proposals made will be acceptable.
It is important to emphasise that this is a normal part of what is a very transparent process and that it is entirely expected, as part of the design assessment process in the UK, for issues to be identified and resolved prior to licensing and construction. This demonstrates that the GDA process is working as intended. We feel it is extremely important that the review processes are robust and challenging.
Safety is a key focus in the EPR reactor design and we welcome the HSE’s assessment which is in line with our expectations of an evaluation process for a modern nuclear power station design. The EPR reactor is of an advanced design and benefits from real construction experience.
The EPR in the UK will not only meet all UK regulatory requirements but also the highest safety standards worldwide. The EPR is a technology available today to generate safe and reliable power by the end of 2017 in the UK.
