Antinuclear

Notice that the above inspection was in 2009. Regulators have suspected or known about problems at French state-owned Areva Le Creusot Forge for a very long time.

According to the US NRC:
“The steam generator is an integral part of the reactor coolant pressure boundary, and its integrity is important to the safe operation of the plant.” http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1320/ML13204A143.pdf

Today ASN, the French nuclear regulator, has stated that “analyses performed by EDF at ASN’s request since 2015 conclude that certain channel heads of the steam generators manufactured by Areva Creusot Forge or JCFC” [ Japan Casting and Forging Corporation] “contain a significant carbon concentration zone which could lead to lower than expected mechanical properties.” In other words, they are more likely to fail and could lead to a serious nuclear accident. An earlier ASN notice states that “in particular its resistance to crack…