Cracks have been detected on three reactors in the French nuclear fleet. EDF risks having to partially suspend the activity of certain power plants. Stops that might lead to a further rise in electricity prices.
Towards a new surge in electricity prices? It is to be feared, esteem The Parisian. EDF announced at the beginning of March the highlighting of three major fissures on reactors n°1 and n°2 of the Penly power plant (Seine-Maritime), as well as on reactor n°3 of the Cattenom power plant (Moselle).
Incidents which push the manager of the French nuclear fleet to carry out repairs and potentially to shut down certain central. And this is what might have significant consequences on electricity prices.
Electricity prices might skyrocket once more
Already during the week, some wholesale electricity prices rose sharply at the announcement of these new incidents (+9%), before a return to normal, report our colleagues. But it is the long-term situation that is more worrying.
For fear of running out of electricity, some buyers or suppliers are ready to pay a high price, explains The Parisian. This is particularly what happened at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 : similar problems had been detected on certain nuclear reactors, leading to the shutdown of some of them and driving up prices.
According to the Nuclear Safety Authority, EDF’s strategy will make it possible to speed up certain inspections and thus have controlled by the end of 2023 more than 90% of the welds that the group has identified as a priority. The energy company estimates that these welds repaired several times were 69 in number, out of a total of 320 welds to be checked on reactors of all power categories.