The review process for the Creation Authorisation Application filed in early 2023 Further to the filing of the Cigéo creation authorisation application on 16 January 2023, ASN initiated the DAC review process for this deep geological disposal facility, which is regulated by Section 4 of Chapter III of Title IX of Book V of the Environment Code and by Article L. 542‑10‑1 of the Environment Code, specific to this type of facility. Following an initial analysis of the contents of the file, ASN ruled that it was administratively acceptable in June 2023 and formally started the technical review process, for which it requested IRSN’s support. This process is expected to last 30 months and will comprise three meetings of the “Waste” GPE. As necessary, experts from the “laboratories and plants” GPE and the “radiation protection” GPE will join these meetings. The review by the GPEs will initially cover the knowledge and the hypotheses used to design the facility and then review operational safety before finally assessing long-term safety. The first meeting of the GPEs was held on 24 and 25 April 2024 and the second on 10 and 11 December 2024. The third and last meeting will be held in June 2025 (see box above). The estimated duration of the entire authorisation process is about five years. Apart from the technical examination phase, it includes a consultation phase (local authorities, Environmental Authority, etc.), as well as a public inquiry. Consultation actions In order to address society’s strong desire to take part in the Cigéo project, and consistent with the measures stipulated in this respect by the 5th PNGMDR, ASN has implemented an unprecedented system of consultation around the technical review process. Thus, various different stakeholders (about twenty organisations, including the Local Information Committees (CLIs), the National Association of Local Information Committees and Commissions (Anccli) and environmental protection associations) were consulted as part of the drafting of the referral to IRSN about the Cigéo creation authorisation application, with the aim of identifying their expectations and concerns, as related to nuclear safety and radiation protection, so that they could be taken into account when framing the technical review. Following this exercise, the IRSN referral project was modified, for example, to incorporate aspects related to addressing climate change issues. To guarantee the continuity of participation by society throughout the technical review process, consultation measures will also be taken when drafting the GPE referrals on the three previously mentioned topics, and the public will be regularly informed, notably after each meeting of these GPEs. The cost of the project In accordance with the procedure stipulated in Article L. 542-12 of the Environment Code and after consideration of ASN’s opinion of February 2015 and the comments of the radioactive waste producers, the Minister responsible for energy issued an Order setting the reference cost of the Cigéo disposal project “at €25 billion under the economic conditions prevailing on 31 December 2011, the year in which the cost evaluation work began”. This cost will be reassessed by Andra in 2025. The Minister responsible for energy shall then set the new cost of Cigéo through a new Ministerial Order issued after receiving ASNR’s opinion on the new Cigéo project costing file. Meetings of the ASN Advisory Committees of Experts to review the Cigéo creation authorisation application The GPD, assisted by members of the GPU and the GPRP, held a first meeting in April 2024 to examine the first series of subjects relating to the databases and the assumptions used to establish the Cigéo safety case. As a conclusion to this first review meeting, the GPE considered that Andra had acquired a sound and sufficient knowledge base concerning the Meuse/Haute-Marne site, the components of the disposal system and the waste package inventories to assess the safety of Cigéo at the creation authorisation application file stage. The GPD set out recommendations concerning the development of the cementitious components of the HL disposal vaults and the performance of the closure structures, the need to consolidate the chemical inventory of the waste and the waste volumes with a view to packaging them. It also underlined that the definition of the pilot industrial phase, as much in terms of objectives as in limitations, must be formalised by Andra during the review in order to be able to assess its adequacy. The GPD considered that the inventories used by Andra are sufficient to continue its development and to examine its flexibility and adaptability. It noted nevertheless that there remained uncertainties concerning the volume of primary packages whose packaging has not yet been determined. Lastly, the GPD also requested additional information on the subjects of steel corrosion and the pilot industrial phase for the purpose of its second meeting. ASN made this request to Andra in writing in May 2024. During its second meeting on 10 and 11 December 2024, the GPD examined the safety issues linked to the building and operating phases of the future deep geological disposal facility. As a conclusion to this meeting, the GPE considered that the safety case for the operation of the above-ground and underground facilities was satisfactory on the whole for the current stage of project development. It nevertheless considered that substantial additional information was necessary for the safety case for disposal of the bituminous waste, closure of the ILW-LL vaults and operation of the HLW vaults. Likewise, the measures for monitoring the first structures have to be detailed before building them. The GPE indicated that it wanted to review these subjects before the excavation work starts. The third and last meeting of the GPD concerning the review of the Cigéo creation authorisation application will be held in June 2025. The recommendations and positions formulated by the GPD during the three Cigéo creation authorisation application review meetings will help ASNR form the opinion it will issue concerning this application in accordance with the provisions of Article L 542-10-1. This opinion will be issued on completion of the technical review and before the consultation phase which includes the public inquiry. 384 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Radioactive waste and contaminated sites and soils
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