Gravelines nuclear power station in France, is the sixth nuclear power plant in the world. In Europe alone Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (in Ukraine) surpasses it.

The nuclear plant is located next to the North Sea near the community of Gravelines in northern France, 20 km from Calais. The surface of the core is 150 hectares.

The nuclear plant uses water from the North Sea for cooling the cores of nuclear reactors.

The Gravelines nuclear power plant has 6 nuclear reactors of 900MW each type of pressurized water reactor (PWR). Approximately installation generates 8.1% of the total electricity produced in France.

Historical Timeline Gravelines nuclear power plant

In March 1974 the Council of Ministers of France authorized a program to build 12 nuclear reactors of 910MW each type of pressurized water reactor (PWR). 4 of these 12 reactors should be installed in Gravelines.

It was initially planned that the reactors 5 and 6 were exported to Iran for nuclear power Darkhovin. Finally the order canceled it the government of Iran after the Iranian revolution of 1979 and repatriated to France.

The engineering and construction Gravelines nuclear facility began in October 1979.

The commissioning of the plant was conducted between 1980 and 1985. In 1980 launched the first two nuclear reactors, two in 1981 and the remaining two in 1985.