The Cattenom nuclear power plant station wants to bring back into service its N°1 reactor, which is affected by corrosion and whose repairs have been postponed until next year.

The race against time continues in France. With part of its nuclear fleet shut down and rising electricity supply fears for this winter, the Cattenom power plant is preparing to restart a reactor.

In a press release published on Tuesday 25 October, the EDF (French multinational electric utility company) confirmed that it wants to restart its N°1 unit, which nevertheless is affected by corrosion. Out of fifteen pipes checked, one weld shows "two slight traces of stress corrosion".

However, according to the electrician, the calculations made by its engineers prove "the integrity of the circuits". As a result, the plant's management explains that it is in discussion with the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) to " restart operations soon". The repairs would be carried out during a shutdown in 2023.

It is a decision that displeases Greenpeace Luxembourg. The association considers it "irresponsible and scandalous" to restart unit 1 before carrying out the repairs. However, it is the ASN that will decide whether or not the unit can be put back into service.