Economy. Eiffage wins the civil engineering contract for the two Penly EPRs, for more than 4 billion euros

A contract worth more than 4 billion euros. The construction giant Eiffage announced this Thursday that it had signed the contract with EDF to carry out the civil engineering work for the EPR2 nuclear reactors planned in Penly (Seine-Maritime).

This contract, for which the consultation was launched in 2019, will include the construction of 69 structures (reactor enclosures, domes 70 meters high and 50 meters in diameter, machine rooms, six-story operations building, etc. ), said Eiffage in a press release.

Up to 4,000 people mobilized

EDF’s objective is to launch the preparatory work in mid-2024, subject to obtaining administrative authorizations.

These civil engineering works are expected to mobilize nearly 4,000 people at the peak of the project.

“Eiffage will endeavor to irrigate the local economic fabric and to promote local employment and integration,” assures the French construction and concessions giant, which also mentions 1.3 million hours reserved for integration and for the employment of people with disabilities.

Eimpact study to be reviewed

On Friday, the Environmental Authority recommended that EDF significantly review its copy of the environmental impact study of the preparatory work and operation of the site (artificialization of the seabed, impacts on the surrounding Natura 2000 sites, etc.) . EDF indicated that it would respond “in the coming weeks”.

The two EPR2s at Penly form the first pair of reactors that the French government intends to see start up, by 2035-2037, before two others at Gravelines (North) then two more at Bugey (Ain), as part of its program to revive the atom.