Les cahiers de l'ASN #01 - Nuclear power plants: going beyond 40 years

* See glossary p.24 From the generic tothespecific T he oldest NPPs in France have 900 MWe reactors with the same design (we also use the term “plant series”). This is why the modifications decided on, notably within the context of a periodic safety review, generally apply to all the reactors with the same power. This is the generic part of the dossier. As the sole licensee of the NPPs in the French nuclear fleet, EDF is responsible for their correct operation, their security and their safety. In this respect, it prepares and implements improvement programmes appropriate to each type of reactor. In 2013, EDF proposed general guidelines for the periodic safety review programmes for the 900 MWe reactors. ASN analysed the topics selected by EDF and issued a position statement in 2016 after consulting its technical support organisation, IRSN*, as well as various advisory committees of experts, which it regularly questions. The Environment Code defines the conditions for a periodic safety review of the nuclear facilities and stipulates the role of each of the stakeholders : the licensee, who is responsible for the safety of its facilities, ASN, which is responsible for ensuring that the licensee implements the means needed to ensure a high level of safety, IRSN*, ASN’s technical support organisation, the local information committees (CLI*) and so on. The safety improvement programme drawn up by EDF for the fourth periodic safety reviews reconciles an overall approach for all the 900 MWe reactors in France with aspects specific to each facility. GENERIC 8 • Les cahiers de l’ASN • September 2018