Les cahiers de l’ASN #02 - Conditions for the continued operation of EDF’s 900MWe reactors

The ten-yearly outage inspection is simply one of the steps in the periodic safety review. ASN’s position statement on the generic phase of the periodic safety review comes well before its resolution on the continued operation of the first reactor concerned, that is to say Tricastin 1, which is planned for the end of 2022. YOUR QUESTIONS, OUR ANSWERS The safety objectives of the new-generation reactors, such as the Flamanville EPR, have been taken as the reference for the continued operation of the 900MWe reactors beyond 40 years. On completion of the review, there will still be differences between the level of safety of the EPR reactor and that of the 900MWe reactors. This is because there are differences in design, such as the more favourable layout of the various EPR reactor buildings, the protection of the fuel storage pool building, or the number of safety systems to cope with an accident. Nevertheless, the 4 th periodic safety review will bring the level of safety of the 900MWe reactors closer to that of the third generation reactors. EDF has in particular planned to reinforce the electrical power and cooling supplies and the protection of the reactors against hazards of extreme intensity. The safety review will enable the radiological consequences of accidents to be reduced. It will also lead EDF to deploy safety improvements inspired directly from the new generation reactors: this is the case for example with the function for stabilising and cooling the corium inside the reactor containment. Following their 4 th periodic safety review, will the 900MWe reactors be just as safe as the new generation reactors? The ASN resolution on the generic phase of the periodic safety review is issued after a number of 900MWe reactors have already undergone their 4 th ten-yearly outage. Is this not too late? 26 • Les cahiers de l’ASN • February 2021 INVOLVEMENT OF THE VARIOUS AUDIENCES IN THE RESOLUTION