ASN Report 2018

Prevention, detection and handling of fraud: progress made in 2018 The EDF and Framatome review of the manufacturing files for all the forged equipment from the Le Creusot plant was completed in 2018. The ASN analysis of this review on each reactor revealed no new deviation prejudicial to their safety, which would have required corrective measures prior to their restart authorisation. Some additional controls or tests however still need to be carried out. The EDF and Framatome examination of the manufacturing files of cast parts is continuing. In 2018, ASN defined and deployed an action plan designed to optimise the prevention, detection and handling of suspected cases of fraud. At its request, the industry reinforced its measures in this area. ASN has enhanced its own oversight process with specific provision for fraud detection during the course of inspections. It also provided whistle-blowers with a new service on its website, enabling fraud or falsification alerts to be collected and processed. Continued operation of the 900 MWe reactors: the high level of mobilisation must be maintained In 2018, with the support of IRSN, ASN continued to examine the fourth periodic safety review of the 900 MWe reactors, in order to define the conditions in which they can continue to operate. ASN will issue a resolution on the generic part of the reactor periodic safety review at the end of 2020. The review will then be carried out reactor by reactor: it will start with Tricastin 1 and run until 2030. The inspections performed and the deviations detected show that the compliance of the facilities with their safety requirements needs to be reinforced: Management of this compliance will thus be a key aspect of ASN oversight in 2019, more particularly during the reactor conformity checks. Periodic safety reviews for facilities other than power reactors: an approach proportionate to the issues Since 2017, the licensees have been carrying out periodic safety reviews of several tens of facilities (research, fuel cycle, decommissioning, waste, radiopharmaceuticals, irradiators). ASN has implemented an examination method commensurate with the issues. Some facilities warranting particular attention, owing to the risks inherent in the activity and the nature of the radioactive substances they contain, or because they were designed on the basis of old safety standards, will be subject to an in-depth examination. Flamanville EPR: significant work still to be done by EDF The Flamanville EPR reactor is designed to provide a higher level of safety than the reactors currently in operation. ASN stresses the fact that EDF still has a significant amount of work to do before fuel can be loaded into the reactor, in order to demonstrate compliance of the facility with its safety requirements. Construction work and equipment manufacturing have experienced numerous difficulties, mainly due to a loss of experience in the performance of major construction sites. These diff iculties also indicate shortcomings in the licensee’s monitoring of certain activities on the construction site. The approach proposed by the latter for dealing with the anomalies detected in the main steam system pipe welds is currently being examined. ASN will issue its opinion on the acceptability of this approach in 2019. ASN will be particularly vigilant with regard to the satisfactory performance of tests prior to start-up and to the handling of any deviations. Furthermore, the results of tests performed on the EPR reactors abroad and exchanges between safety regulators will enable ASN to identify particular topics that require reinforced attention and oversight. Waste: an issue involving numerous stakeholders The Cigéo project for the deep geological disposal of high and intermediate level long-lived waste reached a major milestone in 2018, with the ASN opinion on the safety options dossier. The project as a whole has reached a satisfactory level of technical maturity. Certain subjects however still require additional work before the creation authorisation application can be submitted. ASN more particularly issued additional requests concerning bituminised waste packages and a multi-disciplinary expert review is in progress on these aspects. Andra intends to submit the creation authorisation application for this disposal centre in 2020. It will take account of the ASN opinion issued regarding the safety options dossier. In conjunction with the Ministry responsible for Energy, ASN was closely involved in drafting the project management report and in preparations for the public debate concerning the next National Radioactive Material and Waste Management Plan, organised by the National Public Debates Commission (CNDP). This report aims to shed light on the main questions submitted to the debate, more particularly the management of materials, spent fuel storage needs, the management of very low level waste and of higher level wastes, as well as on the practical arrangements of the industrial phase of the Cigéo project. In 2018, ASN also examined CEA’s strategy for decommissioning and waste and materials management. Jointly with the Defence Nuclear Safety Authority (ASND), this for the first time concerned all civil and defence- related facilities. It notably examined the prioritisation of operations according to their nuclear safety and radiation protection implications, so that CEA could more efficiently manage these large-scale projects at a time of a constrained budgetary context. ASN will issue its opinion on this strategy in 2019. 4  ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018