It’s urgent. Between the power plants undergoing maintenance which pose a risk to the short-term electricity supply, the plans for six new EPRs and the arrival of future latest-generation submarines, which could be propelled to the front of the scene in view of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the French nuclear industry is short of arms. More specifically welders, highly sought-after precision “acrobats” to repair power plant pipes, for example.
This is why four nuclear companies, EDF, Orano, CMN and Naval Group have joined forces to launch a specialized school: Hefais (High School of Welding Training), named after the Greek god of forges and metallurgy Hephaestus. Temporarily based in La Hague in the Cotentin, cradle of the civil and military nuclear sector, the school has welcomed its first 40 trainees since the start of the school year, including 22 job seekers. It must train 200 people per year from 2023 in a permanent building in Cherbourg.
North American welders in emergency
“There is urgency, because we are on major industrial developments in the coming years” with the projects of six new EPR reactors and future latest-generation submarines, said David Le Hir, director of the plant, when receiving the press. de Flamanville 1 and 2, and president of Hefais. While France is threatened with power cuts due to a lack of electron production capacity this winter, EDF is above all faced with the challenge of urgently restarting part of its reactors immobilized by microcracks discovered near cords welding on some pipes.
The phenomenon called “stress corrosion” precipitated the “historic crisis” experienced by the French electrician, according to its new CEO Luc Rémont. Incidentally, EDF also had to manage the recovery of around a hundred welds, including twelve that were difficult to access because they crossed a thick concrete enclosure at the Flamanville EPR, whose construction site for the 3rd reactor is eleven years old. delays and astronomical budget overruns. In the emergency, specialized North American welders from Westinghouse were recruited in addition to the 500 welders already mobilized.
1,000 welders wanted in the nuclear industry by 2030
Hefais now intends to train the “best welders in France”. They will have access to augmented or virtual reality positions. And they’ll weld for real in tight quarters, like ship pieces or power plant piping. This should “accelerate their employability,” said Corentin Lelièvre, the school’s director.
EDF, which has “very few” own welders and relies on a network of subcontractors, “is considering launching a sector of in-house welders” to manage the unexpected, said David Le Hir. The school, whose total investment amounts to some 10 million euros, also financed by the Cotentin region and conurbation, is open to job seekers for nine-month training, and to employees of the metallurgy wishing to retrain or improve. It will also approach schools in the region.
But it will not be able to meet the “colossal need” on its own. “7,000 offers” of recruitment are identified by Pôle emploi, underlines Corentin Lelièvre. And remuneration has not yet followed the strong pressure of demand. The nuclear sector alone estimates its needs at 1,000 per year by 2030. It is also looking for pipefitters and boilermakers. Trade by trade, its needs will be made public in March.