“ It will still be difficult future, doubts, perhaps snags ‘, came to say Emmanuel Macron employees of Creusot Forge Areva factory in Saône-et-Loire Monday. In the great hall of the workshop intended to build the nuclear power plant components, probably the Minister of Economy he thought the “ anomalies, being characterized, in monitoring manufacturing ” granted Friday by the public supplier in trouble.
Following the defects found on the tank of the EPR under construction at Flamanville, the audit conducted on the Creusot Forge manufacturing detected inconsistencies in the manufacturing files. According to a source familiar with the matter, it would actually forgeries on manufacturing files on his site that may have Creusot Forge recognize Areva. “ I can not exclude ,” said Philippe Knoche, the CEO of Areva to “echoes”. “ were conflicting minutes. Either there were additional tests that are not traced, and we must have the belief that they exist. Otherwise, it will draw the consequences , “he explains. “ We wanted to communicate because it is unacceptable, but we’re still looking. “On the side of Bercy, the full results expected of this audit before drawing conclusions. Areva said Tuesday on Twitter that they will be available “late May”
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Changing results
According to the nuclear safety Authority and Areva, about 400 production records are concerned with “ inconsistencies , “about 10,000 manufacturing files audited over a period dating back fifty years. All types of components manufactured at Creusot Forge, they belong to the nuclear island (rings of steam generators, tank elements …) in the conventional island (turbine rotors) or non-nuclear applications are concerned. A big half malfunction concern nuclear parts, said a source.
Reportedly, an operator performing tests on a metal piece inscribed on manufacturing records the results on the chemical analysis of casting, forging parameters, history heat treatment, the results of mechanical tests, etc. These results were then reported in the minutes by quality coordinators, to demonstrate compliance forgings. Or, if value obtained within the required standard, the minutes of some production records were changed, said a source familiar with the matter, with an “official” record holding an “average” value in the report for defects. Customers – EDF and the Commissariat for Atomic Energy, but also foreign electricians – only saw them on the report of the end of production, the required standards
Fifteen days to assess the impact
If the audit has led to this day, it is because all records were kept in separate records. “ This is serious, but it was the practice of steel, not having to give high values to clients ,” said a source. The site, a former Creusot-Loire, is passed through the hands of several owners over the period in question, and was taken over by Areva in 2006. “ What is known is that he was also there important updates to scrap parts at this time “cautions do we at Bercy. In other words: only small difference in rooms with the standards have been changes.
The Nuclear Safety Authority has given fifteen days Areva to assess the impact of these “anomalies” on the safety of documents provided to its customers. The technical committee set up by Areva, with EDF, believes that for now “ the mechanical integrity of pieces ” is not challenged by the discovery of “anomalies”. The practices have ceased between 2010 and 2012, when the quality coordinators were related to quality management, not in the technical direction.
Multiple potential impact
The file could have many implications for French nuclear industry, which boasts its expertise and quality. Customers Areva may have to hold him accountable. The results of this audit could also severely complicate the restructuring of Areva NP, the Areva Reactor Division which must be taken over by EDF that owns and Creusot Forge, posing a severe challenge to the value of Areva NP.
The credibility of ASN could be shaken, as it clearly did not have access to all records. “ The situation has changed in recent years ,” said a union source.
60 jobs threatened on the site Areva Creusot
Faced with financial difficulties, Areva plans to eliminate about 6,000 jobs worldwide, including about 60 of the 270 employees at its plant Creusot Forge. On site visit Monday Emmanuel Macron has reiterated the importance of English EPR project at Hinkley Point for local employment: “The Hinkley Point project is a key project for this plant and I also came repeat the commitment of the government to this project without which there would otherwise hundreds of layoffs at the Creusot site “, said Minister of Economy yardstick after meeting with the unions of the site. “If there are no Hinkley Point, there will be a hole of several years in the load plan” of the factory, told AFP coordinator CFDT Areva, Jean- Pierre Bara
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