Nouvelle‑Aquitaine REGION The Bordeaux division regulates nuclear safety, radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 12 départements of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. In 2023, ASN carried out 142 inspections in the Nouvelle‑ Aquitaine region, comprising 58 in the Blayais and Civaux Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), 69 in small-scale nuclear facilities, five in the area of radioactive substance transport and ten concerning ASN-approved organisations and laboratories. ASN also carried out 18 days of labour inspection at the Blayais NPP and nine days at the Civaux NPP. During 2023, 13 significant events rated level 1 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale (INES scale) were reported by the NPP licensees in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. In small-scale nuclear activities, one significant radiation protection event rated level 1 on the INES scale and 1 event rated level 2 on the ASN-SFRO scale were reported to ASN. BLAYAIS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Blayais NPP situated in the Gironde département, 50 km north of Bordeaux, is operated by EDF and comprises four Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs) with a power of 900 Megawatts electric (MWe), commissioned in 1981 and 1982. Reactors 1 and 2 constitute Basic Nuclear Installation (BNI) 86 and reactors 3 and 4 BNI 110. ASN considers that the performance of the Blayais NPP with regard to nuclear safety is below ASN’s general assessment of EDF plant performance, and that the actions taken to raise this performance must be continued and increased. The radiation protection and environmental protection performance is in line with the general assessment. With regard to nuclear safety, in 2023 the Blayais NPP did not manage to stop the deterioration in performance already observed in 2022. ASN considers that the licensee’s performance in reactor operational management did not meet expectations, despite a plan of operating rigour having been put in place a plan by site senior management. Increasing staff numbers has not yet rectified this situation. ASN noted shortcomings in training and the maintaining of skills, compliance with procedures and activity preparation. Moreover, the ASN inspections focusing on operational management for incidents and accidents and on emergency situation management revealed deficiencies in the documentation and access to certain equipment items. In the area of fire risk control, ASN notes the occurrence of several notable events and still too many shortcomings in the application of the safety rules in the field. Lastly, with regard to maintenance, which was considered to have been reasonably good in 2022, ASN observed difficulties in the tracking and performance of activities in the context of an intense industrial programme on account of the ten-yearly reactor outages, which will be a focal point of vigilance in 2024. With regard to occupational radiation protection, ASN considers that the performance has improved slightly with respect to 2022. It underlines the licensee’s commitment in this area, but notes that it faces chronic difficulties in observing radiation protection fundamentals, such as wearing dosimeters, complying with alarms or the non-crossing of cordoned-off controlled areas. ASN notes with approval the good control of radiation protection during the reactor outages in 2023. Concerning environmental protection, ASN underlines the licensee’s results in improving the functioning of the wastewater treatment station, controlling legacy pollution in the soils and groundwater, and reducing its diffuse discharges of greenhouse gas refrigerants. ASN has nevertheless observed the continuation of inappropriate operating practices (handling acids outside the channels provided for this purpose) having led to non-radioactive pollutions or bypassing of the normal discharge routes. ASN considers that the licensee must improve its operating practices and the maintenance of components important for protection of the environment. ASN also adopted two resolutions in 2023 regulating the water intakes and discharges of liquid and gaseous effluents from the Blayais NPP. These new resolutions update the prescriptions of 2003 in order to integrate the changes in the regulations and the operating experience feedback from liquid and gaseous effluent discharges, leading to the lowering of certain discharge limits. With regard to labour inspection, ASN notes that the results concerning worker safety are improving. ASN has observed risk situations for workers concerning traffic and the risk of collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle, work at height, and the occurrence of events affecting safety linked to handheld power tools. The procedure for managing the evacuation of injured persons must be improved and taken into consideration as early as possible in worksite preparation. 80 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023
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