News releases

All the news about nuclear safety and radiation protection

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Published on 22/04/2020 at 15:12

4th periodic safety review of the 900 MWe reactors

ASN is continuing its examination of the files constituting the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of EDF's thirty-two 900 MWe reactors. It plans consulting the public at the end of 2020 on its draft position statement concerning the continued operation of these reactors. At present, ASN considers that the Covid-19 epidemic should have only a limited impact on its position statement schedule.

Published on 18/03/2020 at 14:55

Coronavirus epidemic

ASN is working closely with the nuclear licensees and activity managers to analyse the nuclear safety and radiation protection consequences of the measures taken to deal with the ongoing health emergency.

Published on 17/03/2020 at 14:54

Recommendations for improving radiation protection in the operating theatre

The number of fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures is constantly increasing, particularly surgical procedures in operating theatres. They bring considerable benefits for the patient but present significant risks in terms of radiation protection, for the medical staff and patients alike.

Published on 26/02/2020 at 11:30

ASN publishes guides in English regarding the decommissioning and remediation

In France, once a basic nuclear installation (BNI) is definitely shut down, it must go through the decommissioning and remediation process, with the end goal of achieving a predetermined final state in which all the hazardous substances have been removed. Accomplishing these decommissioning operations can often present a technical and project management challenge to licensees.

Published on 06/02/2020 at 13:49

ASN Chairman meets his Polish counterpart in Warsaw

Bernard Doroszczuk, Chairman of ASN, met on Monday 3 February 2020 with his counterpart, Dr Łukasz Młynarkiewicz, at the headquarters of the Polish Nuclear Safety Authority (PAA).

Published on 30/01/2020 at 16:20

ASN New Year’s greetings to the press

The ASN Chairman recalled that 2019 had been a dense year, marked by serious subjects which will determine the nuclear safety and radiation protection actions for 2020:

Published on 27/12/2019 at 10:39

Reactor 2 of the Penly NPP: a significant safety event rated level 2 on the INES scale

On 18 December 2019, EDF reported a significant safety event relating to defective electrical components which put the backup systems of the Penly NPP reactor 2 out of service.
The equipment ensuring the safety of each NPP reactor is supplied with electrical power via two redundant electrical panels (channels A and B). These electrical panels supply power to the motors that actuate the valves and pumps of the backup systems and the reactor instrumentation and control panels.

Published on 24/12/2019 at 11:20

Generic phase of the fourth periodic safety reviews of the 1300 MWe reactors

On 11 December 2019, ASN issued a position statement on the orientations of the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of EDF’s 1300 MWe nuclear reactors. ASN considers that the general objectives set by EDF for this review are acceptable in principle. However, it asks EDF to modify or supplement these general objectives for this safety review, to consider certain baseline requirements for reassessment of the safety of its facilities and to add study topics to its review programme. The requests made by ASN are to a large extent based on those made in 2016 for the fourth periodic safety review of the 900 MWe reactors.

Published on 23/12/2019 at 14:37

ASN takes stock of the earthquake resistance of the French nuclear power plants

In the wake of the Teil earthquake of 11 November 2019, ASN takes stock of the earthquake resistance of the French nuclear power plants. Earthquakes form part of the natural risks that nuclear facilities must be able to withstand. Seismic protection measures are taken at the installation design stage and reviewed every ten years during the periodic safety reviews to take account of developments in knowledge and changes in regulations.