A level 1 incident took place in early June on a control circuit of the primary circuit of reactor 1 of the Golfech nuclear power plant (Tarn-et-Garonne) following a series of incidents in recent months, we learned Thursday from EDF. Located on the banks of the Garonne between Agen and Toulouse, this power plant is made up of two 1,300 megawatt reactors that cover on average 50% of the electricity consumption of the Occitanie region.
This level 1 incident (on the INES scale which has 7) occurred on January 5 on reactor number 1 and “ had no consequences on the safety of the facilities, on the safety of personnel, or on the environment ”, assured the press service of EDF to AFP. " This incident is linked to non-compliance with the technical operating specifications, " he said. " A tap in the radiochemical parameters control circuit of the water in the primary circuit was not tight enough " during a maintenance operation causing " a release of vapor which was not in the atmosphere ", he clarified.
Read also: Nuclear: the return of proliferation threatens the balance of the world
EDF underlines in a press release that it is “ the non-respect of the technical specifications of exploitation and the late detection of the event (which) led the management of the Golfech power plant to declare (the incident) to the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), June 10 ".
The Golfech power plant is in the crosshairs of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) which had convened its director in February, after having " noted deficiencies in the implementation of reactor operating operations and a lack of rigor systemic in the recording and traceability of activities relating to the maintenance of installations ”.
