SAFETY at the nuclear power plant at Flamanville has been reaffirmed by a leading figure from operator Electricite de France. Gilles Zask, vice-president of EDF’s production and engineering division, told the Energy Networks Association’s health and safety conference at Beau Sejour that the company expected at least another 20 years’ life from the plant on the Cotentin peninsula near the islands.

It had developed a long-term strategy for all its plants, housing 58 reactors and spread over 19 sites throughout France, which would reinforce safety measures.

EDF owns all its plants and sites and operates the same pressurised water reactor technology on each. Mr Zask said that it was much simpler to run a ‘standardised nuclear fleet’.

The oldest plants were nearly 30 years old, but the company plans to get 40 years’ use from all of them before decommissioning. Nine units are currently being dismantled.

‘This demonstrates our ability to handle nuclear power plant cycle from end to end,’ he said.

Nuclear power had been a success story for France, said Mr Zask.

‘In France we had no choice. We had no gas and no coal because the mines were empty. We had no alternative choice for power. You can see today that we made a good choice.’

The company’s work was also backed up by a ‘resolute energy policy’ from the government, which had not veered in its support for nuclear generation over the decades.

Output has continued to rise year on year with increased demand on the European grid.