ASN assessments ASN carries out its oversight role by using the regulatory framework and individual resolutions, inspections, and if necessary, enforcement measures and penalties, in a way that is complementary and tailored to each situation, to ensure optimal control of the risks nuclear activities represent for people and the environment. ASN reports on its duties and produces an assessment of the actions of each licensee, in each activity sector. 20 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 ASN assessments per licensee EDF The nuclear power plants in operation ASN considers that the quality of operation of the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) remained satisfactory in 2023. 2023 was marked by the restart, following lengthy outages, of a large number of reactors in which certain lines, affected by stress corrosion cracking, had to be replaced. REACTOR IMPROVEMENTS AND CONTINUED OPERATION The modifications made to the facilities and operational methods by EDF within the framework of the reactor periodic safety reviews are significantly improving the safety of the facilities and enabling their level of safety to be brought closer in line with that of the third-generation reactors. EDF is deploying considerable engineering resources for these reviews. For a number of years now, ASN has seen that the volume of studies and modifications required is leading to saturation of EDF’s engineering capacity. At EDF’s request, which highlighted considerable pressure on its engineering teams, changes to reactor outage scheduling and the safety benefits to be gained from limiting the number of different reactor configurations, ASN in 2023 adjusted the deadlines for the requirements it issued in 2021 following the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of the 900 Megawatts electric (MWe) reactors. ASN considers that EDF must take steps to ensure that the implementation and operation of the modifications can be guaranteed in good conditions despite the considerable workload on the engineering teams and the sometimes short amount of time the operating teams have in which to assimilate these modifications. Attention must also be given to right training of the parties concerned, so that they can correctly operate the new systems and maintain them. In this context, ASN takes a positive view of the action taken by the in-house inspection bodies set up by EDF for the design of the noteworthy modifications to its installations.
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