Photo: Charly TriballeauFrance’s world renowned prowess in the nuclear industry is being seriously undermined by its efforts to build a flagship nuclear reactor at Flamanville. It was supposed to showcase the expertise of France’s nuclear energy industry to the world and is key to the UK's own nuclear strategy. Although the explosion did not occur at the new reactor, the incident will still prove to be embarrassing for France's nuclear authorities. It was commissioned as part of France's nuclear renaissance programme that will see the country's aging nuclear plants replaced over time. “It is a serious fault, even a very serious fault, because it involves a crucial part of the nuclear reactor,” said Pierre-Franck Chevet, head of France’s nuclear safety agency (ASN).

Source: The Local February 09, 2017 11:03 UTC