France’s Penly nuclear power plant.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergEnergy
Cracking Under Pressure: Inside the Race to Fix France’s Nuclear Plants
EDF faces the daunting task of repairing corroded pipes in its reactors — a crisis with implications for all of Europe.
Behind layers of security and a thick concrete wall, a team of welders work in shifts to fix the crippled Penly nuclear plant in northern France. Sweating under protective gear, they’re replacing cracked pipes in the emergency cooling system which protects against a reactor meltdown.
Each weld takes at least three days to complete, with workers often on their knees or backs to reach for the correct angle. Even in radiation suits, health regulations limit work in that environment to a maximum 40 hours a year.