INDIVIDUAL NPP ASSESSMENTS The ASN Assessments of each NPP are detailed in the Regional Overview in this report. With regard to safety, the NPPs at Saint-Alban and Tricastin stand out positively in 2022, whereas , the NPP at Dampierre-enBurly and, to a lesser extent, at Bugey, Cruas-Meysse, Golfech and Gravelines under-performed by comparison with the other NPPs operated by EDF. The reactors of the Chooz B and Civaux NPPs not having operated in 2022 owing to repair work on the lines with stress corrosion cracks, ASN was unable to compare their safety performance with that of the other NPPs. With regard to radiation protection, the NPPs of Civaux and Paluel stood out positively. However, ASN considers that the NPPs of Dampierre-en-Burly and Gravelines had under-performed. With regard to environmental protection, the Saint-Laurent-desEaux NPP stood out positively, whereas , the NPPs at Cattenom and Golfech under-performed. The Flamanville EPR reactor under construction In 2022, EDF continued with work to complete the installation, to make modifications to certain equipment and to draw up the various documents needed for the future operation of the reactor. EDF also continued to analyse and process anomalies, notably those affecting the welds on the main secondary systems, along with three main primary system nozzles. The equipment conservation strategy implemented by EDF is satisfactory, provided that EDF can set up a programme to inspect the equipment at the end of the conservation phase. EDF also continued to conduct the reactor start-up test programme and initiated preparations for the requalification phase for all equipment, scheduled in 2023 in preparation for commissioning. Certain important technical subjects still need to be dealt with in full before the reactor can be commissioned. This is in particular the case with the design of the primary system safety valves, Instrumentation and Control (I&C) upgrades, the performance of the containment internal water tank filtration system, the general operating rules that will be applicable as of commissioning and incorporation of the lessons learned from the commissioning of the first EPR reactors abroad, in particular the various anomalies found on the cores of the EPR reactors in Taishan (China), including the fuel clad perforations observed in 2021. Nuclear power plants being decommissioned and waste management facilities FACILITIES UNDERGOING FINAL SHUTDOWN The EDF reactors finally shut down (Brennilis, Chooz A, Fessenheim, Superphénix, Gas-Cooled Reactors – GCRs) no longer contain any spent fuel. The main safety issues therefore concern the containment of radioactive substances and radiation protection. Some installations also present an additional risk linked to the presence of asbestos, sometimes combined with the presence of radiological contamination, which makes the intervention conditions more complex. Generally speaking, ASN considers that the EDF facilities undergoing decommissioning or being prepared for decommissioning are well managed and that the licensee is correctly meeting its commitments. With regard to radiation protection, the organisation put into place by EDF in its radiation protection expertise centres is satisfactory. With respect to these projects, EDF gives priority to risk mitigation in its facilities. ASN also considers that the decommissioning or decommissioning preparation operations on the facilities other than the GCRs is progressing at a satisfactory pace. Significant milestones were reached in 2022 for these facilities, in particular regarding the preparation of Fessenheim for decommissioning. With regard to the GCRs, EDF continued with decommissioning work outside the pressure vessel on the Saint-Laurent A, Bugey 1 and Chinon A3 reactors in satisfactory conditions of safety. However, the progress of these projects is significantly slower and the decommissioning completion deadlines envisaged by EDF remain a subject of concern for ASN. Finally, the conclusions reached this year regarding the Chooz A review demonstrate the same methodological weaknesses as the previous reviews performed on the facilities undergoing decommissioning. ASN will be vigilant in ensuring that EDF takes account of these conclusions when performing its future reviews, notably with regard to the condition of floors or the conformity check. THE SPENT FUEL AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES With regard to its facilities in operation, EDF is carrying out numerous equipment upgrades in the Superphénix spent fuel storage unit (Apec), which is satisfactory. Improvements are however required in waste management in the activated waste packaging and interim storage installation (Iceda). Finally, concerning the centralised storage pool that EDF intends to build at La Hague, ASN considers that EDF must take all necessary steps to submit the creation authorisation application (DAC) file for this new facility no later than the end of 2023, with a view to commissioning in 2034. ASN recalls the importance of having new spent fuel storage capacity compliant with the most recent safety standards in order to deal with the problem of saturation of the existing capacity. 20 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 ASN Assessments
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