News releases

All the news about nuclear safety and radiation protection

476 news

Published on 11/10/2017 at 16:05

Flamanville EPR reactor: ASN issues its opinion

On 10th October 2017, ASN issued its opinion on the anomaly in the steel used for the Flamanville EPR reactor pressure vessel lower head and closure head. ASN considers that this anomaly is not such as to compromise the commissioning of the reactor pressure vessel, provided that specific checks are carried out during operation of the installation. As the feasibility of these checks cannot at present be confirmed for the closure head, ASN considers that the current closure head cannot be used beyond 2024.

Published on 04/10/2017 at 14:16

4e conference of the MDEP

Created in 2006, the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) currently brings together the nuclear safety authorities of fifteen countries.

Published on 29/08/2017 at 12:28

Cigeo radioactive waste disposal facility

In April 2016, Andra sent ASN the safety options dossier (DOS) for the Cigeo radioactive waste deep geological disposal project. Submission of the DOS means that the project is now subject to a process covered by regulations concerning basic nuclear installations (BNI) and more specifically by article 6 of decree 2007.1557 of 2nd November 2007.

Published on 29/08/2017 at 12:08

2016-2018 PNGMDR

The 2016-2018 National Plan for Radioactive Materials and Waste Management (PNGMDR) was published on 25th February 2017 by the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and the Sea and ASN. For the first time it underwent a process to assess its effects on the environment, followed by a public consultation.

Published on 28/06/2017 at 16:00

ASN presents its position regarding the Flamanville EPR reactor vessel anomaly

On 28th June 2017, ASN presented its position regarding the Flamanville EPR reactor pressure vessel anomaly. ASN relied on the analysis of the files transmitted by Areva NP and EDF, carried out by its nuclear pressure equipment department and its technical support organisation IRSN, and on the opinion of its Advisory Committee for nuclear pressure equipment.

Published on 21/06/2017 at 14:23

Level 2 incident concerning the emergency diesel generator sets

ASN rated as level 2 on the INES scale a significant safety incident regarding the seismic resistance of the auxiliary systems of the emergency diesel generator sets of twenty 1300 MWe reactors on the Belleville, Cattenom, Flamanville, Golfech, Nogent, Paluel, Penly and Saint-Alban NPPs.

Published on 09/06/2017 at 19:30

EPR Reactor: Information Letter n°19

In the second half of 2016, ASN continued its monitoring of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor and its various manufacturing operations. The notable points observed over these last few months are detailed below.

Published on 30/05/2017 at 17:15

40th INRA meeting

On May 17 and 18, the 40th meeting of the International Nuclear Regulators’ Association (INRA) allowed the participating heads of nuclear safety authorities to discuss their practices...

Published on 11/05/2017 at 13:31

Hearing of the Director General of ITER

The ASN Commission regularly holds hearings of the main parties responsible for nuclear activities with regard to nuclear safety and radiation protection issues.

Published on 14/04/2017 at 09:30

Resumption of manufacturing in AREVA NP’s Creusot Forge plant

Areva NP informed ASN of its intention to resume forging operations in its Creusot Forge plant, on nuclear pressure equipment components for French BNIs. In letters dated 12th April 2017 sent to Areva NP and EDF, ASN defined preconditions for resumption of the forging operations.