(Updates with comments from EDF throughout the article.)
Utility firm Electricite de France extended a maintenance outage at its Gravelines 5 nuclear reactor until Jan. 25, 2027, adding seven weeks to the planned schedule, EDF Press Officer Laura Mandin toldon Thursday.
"As part of scheduled reactor outages, preventive inspections of piping systems are integrated into the industrial maintenance program," Mandin said in an emailed response.
She added that during preventive inspections of primary circuit components as part of the ten-year outage of Gravelines Unit 5, indications of potential stress corrosion cracking were found on certain piping sections.
This prompted additional inspections. "These non-destructive examinations may, on a precautionary basis, occasionally require the removal of certain pipe sections for further analysis," Mandin said.
As a result of the additional inspections, the grid reconnection of Unit 5, initially scheduled for Dec. 8, is now planned for Jan. 25, 2027.