Normandie REGION The Caen division regulates nuclear safety, radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 5 départements of the Normandie region. In 2023, ASN carried out 217 inspections in Normandie, comprising 68 in the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) of Flamanville, Paluel and Penly, 14 on the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor construction site, 69 on “fuel cycle” facilities, research facilities and facilities undergoing decommissioning, 46 in small-scale nuclear activities, 11 in the transport of radioactive substances and nine in ASNapproved organisations and laboratories. In addition to this, 26 days of labour inspection were carried out on the NPP sites and the Flamanville 3 construction site. In 2023, ASN was notified of 11 significant events rated level 1 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES scale), of which ten occurred in Basic Nuclear Installations (BNIs) and one in small-scale nuclear activities. Lastly, in the context of their oversight duties, the ASN inspectors issued one violation report. FLAMANVILLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Operated by EDF and situated in the Manche département in the municipality of Flamanville, 25 km south-west of Cherbourg, the Flamanville NPP comprises two Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), each of 1,300 Megawatts electric (MWe) commissioned in 1985 and 1986. Reactor 1 constitutes BNI 108 and reactor 2 BNI 109. ASN considers that the performance of the Flamanville NPP with regard to nuclear safety, radiation protection and environmental protection is in line with the general assessment of EDF plant performance. In the area of nuclear safety, ASN observes that the measures taken by the site after being placed under tightened surveillance in 2019 are still being applied and form the subject of a satisfactory improvement process as regards keeping the facilities up to standard and the dissemination and application of the safety fundamentals by the EDF personnel and outside contractors. With regard to reactor management and operation, ASN considers that the site’s performance has been consolidated. The restarting of reactor 1 after replacing the Steam Generators (SGs) went well on the whole. The site coped satisfactorily with the various management operations required on the two reactors linked to equipment deficiencies. Nevertheless, the year 2023 was again marked by a large number of significant events linked to noncompliance with the baseline operating requirements. In 2024, ASN will remain vigilant regarding the improvement in the rigour of reactor operational management and the measures the site has undertaken to implement concerning system and equipment configuration management. As a general rule, ASN considers that the licensee carried out the maintenance operations competently. ASN notes positively the durability and robustness of the site’s action plan concerning the risk of equipment corrosion. The licensee’s system monitoring tools are of good quality and provide a faithful representation of the condition of the systems. ASN will be attentive to the licensee’s coordination and monitoring of risky worksites in 2024, particularly during the two scheduled reactor outages. The site’s radiation protection performance improved slightly in 2023. ASN underlines that the identification and notification process for significant radiation protection events is effective. Improvements are nevertheless required in the management of waste zoning and the risk of contamination dispersion. ASN observes a slight improvement in environmental protection. ASN underlines the observance of discharge limits and control of the conditions of storage and use of substances dangerous for the environment. However, the licensee must be particularly attentive to maintaining the mineralisation station and the oil filter in their present condition. With regard to on-site and off-site transport operations, despite the improvement in organisation observed during 2023, further progress is still to be made, particularly in the monitoring of subcontracted activities. With regard to labour inspection, ASN considers that the licensee must be vigilant regarding the working conditions close to the new steam generators of reactor 1 and must anticipate the changes in space requirement for the future replacement of the reactor 2 steam generators. Improvements are also required in the content and depth of the analysis of workplace accidents and near-accidents to prevent their recurrence. 70 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023
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