Nuclear. Getting out of the EPR deadlock: the EPR's evil star; Under the Flamanville vessel; United-Kingdom: Hinkley Point, stop or more? A nuclear which we will be able to finance

A first article outlines and comments the difficulties faced in the development and construction of the EPR which seems to be born under an evil star, and which resulted in a loss of credibility for the French nuclear industry. The author evokes various steps in the design and test of various components which finally produced important delays and high costs. Moreover, the reactor high power seems not to be adapted to current market status and needs. The reorganisation of the French nuclear sector also produced an unfavourable environment (the dismantling of Areva into two companies is briefly evoked). Now, the objective for EDF is to try to optimize the reactor production and reduce costs by 25 to 30 per cent. A second article addresses the situation of the Flamanville EPR construction which is now six years late. The author proposes an overview of the differences between the various parts and components of the power station: the control room is operational whereas many parts and rooms are still under construction. A new management of construction organisation has been set up. The third article addresses the situation of the British Hinkley Point EPR project. Due to the difficulties met in Finland and in Flamanville, a new financial drift would be a catastrophe, and as many aspects of the project are already well defined, EDF keeps on stating that the decision to build these two EPRs is about to be taken, as it is in fact always delayed. The last article is an interview in which a manager of an important nuclear engineering company comments the role of the French nuclear reactor model in the world, the development of concepts of small modular reactors, and the impact of EPR construction difficulties on the image of the French nuclear industry in the world