Areva Confirms Quality Control Deviations On Fuel Rods

22 Nov (NucNet): Areva has told France’s nuclear operator EDF that there are “quality control deviations” on a number of fuel rods used in fuel assemblies at operating nuclear plants. Areva said the supplier of the rods has not been able to show that quality control has been carried out in a way that proves the rods are leak-tight. EDF said in a statement on 21 October 2017 that 14 out of the 2,600,000 rods installed on the French nuclear fleet are involved. They are three rods are in use at the Golfech-2, Flamanville-1 and Cattenom-3 reactors, and 11 rods that have not been installed. Areva said there are no safety implications and no remedial measures need to be taken. A typical 1,300-MW nuclear unit contains 193 fuel assemblies, each consisting of 264 fuel rods.