1. General

Since nuclear power plants account for the bulk of France's electricity production, the importance of safe, economical and reliable operation of this type of energy in France is even greater than in most other countries, where this energy source is a minority or even non-existent. However, there is a worldwide trend towards increased nuclear power production, particularly in emerging countries such as China, due to global warming and the cost of the most widely used fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil), as well as the lack of availability and cost of alternative renewable energies (hydro, solar and wind).

Each French power plant consists of two to six reactors (or units) with power ratings of 900, 1,300 or 1,450 MWe, comprising three main circuits:

• the primary circuit, site of the nuclear reaction ;

• ...