Chinon
Reactor Data
Reactor Units
Every power reactor at this site as listed in the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS): reactor type and model, net electrical capacity, grid connection and commercial operation dates, and current status.
7 units: 4 operational, 3 permanent shutdown.
Net capacity in service: 3,620 MWe.
| Unit | Type | Model | Net MWe | Construction | Grid | Commercial Op | Shutdown | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinon A-1 | GCR | UNGG | 70 | 1957-02-01 | 1963-06-14 | 1964-02-01 | 1973-04-16 | Permanent Shutdown |
| Chinon A-2 | GCR | UNGG | 180 | 1959-08-01 | 1965-02-24 | 1965-02-24 | 1985-06-14 | Permanent Shutdown |
| Chinon A-3 | GCR | UNGG | 360 | 1961-03-01 | 1966-08-04 | 1966-08-04 | 1990-06-15 | Permanent Shutdown |
| Chinon B-1 | PWR | CP2 | 905 | 1977-03-01 | 1982-11-30 | 1984-02-01 | Operational | |
| Chinon B-2 | PWR | CP2 | 905 | 1977-03-01 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-08-01 | Operational | |
| Chinon B-3 | PWR | CP2 | 905 | 1980-10-01 | 1986-10-20 | 1987-03-04 | Operational | |
| Chinon B-4 | PWR | CP2 | 905 | 1981-02-01 | 1987-11-14 | 1988-04-01 | Operational |
Capacity, milestones and suppliers
| Unit | Design MWe | Gross MWe | Thermal MWt | First Criticality | Reactor Supplier | Turbine Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinon A-1 | 68 | 80 | 300 | 1962-09-16 | LEVIVIER | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon A-2 | 170 | 230 | 800 | 1964-08-17 | LEVIVIER | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon A-3 | 480 | 480 | 1,170 | 1966-03-01 | GRANDS TRAVAUX DE MARSEILLE | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon B-1 | 870 | 954 | 2,785 | 1982-10-28 | FRAMATOME | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon B-2 | 870 | 954 | 2,785 | 1983-09-23 | FRAMATOME | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon B-3 | 905 | 954 | 2,785 | 1986-09-18 | FRAMATOME | ALSTOM | |
| Chinon B-4 | 905 | 954 | 2,785 | 1987-10-13 | FRAMATOME | ALSTOM |
Lifetime performance, through 2025
| Unit | Electricity Supplied | Load Factor | Energy Availability | Operating Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinon A-1 | 3.0 TWh | 41.2% | 39.1% | 39.8% |
| Chinon A-2 | 24.9 TWh | 70.9% | 70.9% | 74.9% |
| Chinon A-3 | 30.6 TWh | 40.6% | 41.8% | 49.2% |
| Chinon B-1 | 239.3 TWh | 70.9% | 74.3% | 76.3% |
| Chinon B-2 | 239.0 TWh | 72.5% | 76.3% | 77.9% |
| Chinon B-3 | 221.5 TWh | 71.6% | 75.5% | 77.3% |
| Chinon B-4 | 224.4 TWh | 74.6% | 78.3% | 80.6% |
Operator: ÉLECTRICITÉ DE FRANCE
Owner: ÉLECTRICITÉ DE FRANCE
Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), as of 2026-11-02.
Working Here
Per Diem Rates FY 2026
Per diem covers lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) for government and contractor travel near this facility. Rates are from the U.S. State Department foreign per diem tables for FY 2026.
$220
Lodging/Night
$132
M&IE/Day
$352
Total/Day
France: rate for locations the State Department does not list separately
U.S. Department of State foreign per diem, for U.S. government and contractor travel.
Photos
Photos of this facility from the NukeWorker photo gallery. Click the header or any photo to browse the full album.
Facility Map
Interactive satellite map showing the facility's geographic location. Marker color indicates current status: green for online, red for offline, orange for reduced power. Click the header to open in Google Maps satellite view.
47.2246, 0.166942
Location & Contact
Physical address, phone number, and website for this facility. Use the directions link to get driving directions via Google Maps.
Plant Facts
About This Site
Written by NukeWorker from public records: facts that do not change. Operator, status and capacity come from the live data elsewhere on this page. Sources: Wikipedia: Chinon Nuclear Power Plant.
Chinon is a nuclear power site in the commune of Avoine, in the Indre-et-Loire department of Centre-Val de Loire. It stands on the Loire river, about 10 km from the town of Chinon. The site has two generations of reactors, the A series and the B series.
Read more
The three A units were gas-cooled, graphite-moderated (UNGG) reactors. Construction of Chinon A-1 began in February 1957, and the units were connected to the grid in 1963, 1965 and 1966. They were permanently shut down in 1973, 1985 and 1990. The four B units are pressurized water reactors, with construction starting in 1977 for B-1 and B-2, in 1980 for B-3 and in 1981 for B-4. They were first connected to the grid between 1982 and 1987.