New French nuclear plant: 2 *more* years late and almost 100% over budget

[kristopher]

EDF Delays Flamanville to 2016 on Fukushima, Fatal Accidents
By Tara Patel - Jul 20, 2011 1:04 PM GMT-0400

Electricite de France SA, Europe’s biggest generator, said stress tests following the Fukushima atomic disaster and fatal accidents have raised the cost and delayed the start of its new reactor at Flamanville in Normandy.

The EPR will cost around 6 billion euros ($8.5 million) and start selling power commercially in 2016 compared with a previous estimate of about 5 billion euros and 2014, according to an e-mailed statement today from the Paris-based company.

The plant is a showcase for the ‘third-generation’ nuclear technology the utility wants to export globally. EDF is developing EPRs in China and has plans for more in the U.K. and the U.S. The 1,650-megawatt plant has run over its initial budget of 3.3 billion euros and 2012 startup target.

Two people died at the EPR building site in separate incidents, one of which suspended civil engineering work for weeks, “considerably slowing down progress” this year, according to the state-controlled generator.

France’s nuclear watchdog ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-20/edf-delays-flamanville-to-2016-on-fukushima-deadly-accidents.html

[FBaggins]

1. Wow... the Euro/Dollar exchange rate has really moved since the last time I traveled.

I could move to Italy and retire!

[SpoonFed]

2. I'd prefer you move to a north eastern prefecture on Honshu...

and use some of your "expertise" in retirement to clean up the nuclear plant disaster over there.

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[bananas]

3. And what are the odds there will be more delays over the next 5 years?

100%.