EDF Finds Hints of Stress Corrosion Crack at Nuclear Reactor

Electricite de France SA found indications that “stress corrosion” cracks may again affect pipes at a nuclear reactor that it fixed fewer than three years ago, risking a revival of tensions on Europe’s power and gas markets.

The French power giant had to halt part of its atomic plants, which are the backbone of Western Europe’s electricity market, to fix cracked pipes in 2022 and 2023, sending energy prices soaring as the repairs coincided with dwindling Russian gas supplies to the continent.