The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has been informed by EDF at 14:25 that an event occurred at the Cattenom nuclear power plant, in reactor No1.
According to preliminary information available to ASN, the cause of the event is the unexpected opening of a valve in the secondary circuit. The reactor was automatically shut down. A safety water injection was initiated. There has been no radioactive releases in the environment.
The Cattenom nuclear power plant consists of four pressurized water reactors with a capacity of 1300 MWe.
ASN is in permanent contact with the Moselle Prefecture, the Technical Support Organization (IRSN) and the operator (EDF). ASN has mobilized its division geographically competent, the Strasbourg ASN Division, and has dispatched officers to the EDF site and to the Moselle Prefecture in Metz.
The alert was received during an emergency drill concerning the Chinon nuclear site. This emergency drill was interrupted and as a consequence, the ASN emergency center was immediately operational.
