Fives Nordon to build boilermaking equipment for EDF nuclear reactors

Fives Nordon has secured a contract from EDF to build 300 pieces of boilermaking equipment for six new French nuclear reactors.

The French engineering company announced the development, which marks a significant step in expanding France’s nuclear production capacity, as reported by Reuters.

The construction of these parts will commence in 2027, with deliveries expected to continue through to 2038.

The contract follows 18 months of engineering studies, although Fives Nordon has not disclosed its value.

President Emmanuel Macron has prioritised enhancing France’s nuclear capabilities by extending the lifetimes of existing sites and constructing at least six new reactors, aiming for a capacity of 10GW in the coming years.

Earlier in 2025, the French government agreed to provide EDF with a subsidised loan, covering at least half of the estimated €52bn construction costs for the six new reactors, as projected in 2022.

An updated budget is anticipated by the end of 2025, but legislative approval is still pending under France’s multi-annual energy planning law.

The French government aims to pass the necessary decree before autumn, despite facing a divided parliament intent on cutting €40bn ($46.90bn) from the budget.

In June 2025, France’s nuclear watchdog, ASNR, reported “hints” of potential stress corrosion in the Civaux 2 reactor, necessitating further testing.

Less than three years before this, EDF encountered stress corrosion cracks in the same reactor, leading to a significant drop in nuclear output and a 34-year low in production, which drove power prices higher.