Saint-Vulbas (01). 2011/03/22. The Bugey Nuclear Power Station, operated by EDF (French Electricity Board) was built in 1979 and its site occupies a surface area of 100 hectares, 35 kilometres away from Lyon. About 1200 people work at the site which houses four operating units, pressurized water reactors (REP), cooled by the Rhone water and producing about 40 % of the electricity consumed by the Rhone-Alpes region.Engine room of the Unit 3