Les cahiers de l'ASN #03 - 10 years after Fukushima

REINFORCING SAFETY IN FRANCE The fuel cycle* facilities in service These are facilities performing the conversion, enrichment and fabrication of fuel, as well as spent fuel reprocessing facilities. They all utilise hazardous substances in industrial quantities. The licensees of these facilities are Orano* and Framatome*. Following the Fukushima accident, ASN asked them to conduct stress tests (ECS* in French), which led to safety improvement requirements being stipulated. Nuclear Power Plants are not the only nuclear facilities to be improved following the Fukushima accident. The other nuclear facilities are concerned, notably those which produce or store fuel, and those which process or store radioactive waste, and ASN issued binding requirements applicable to them. Major advances Reinforcement of electrical resources with connection of electricity generating sets in 2016 Water make-up using mobile resources in 2016 and replacement of the valves at La Hague in 2018 Crisis management with the construction of a bunker for the crisis units and the deployment of material and human assistance to a damaged site Reinforcement of the safety of pools , with the installation of pumps under the pools to prevent them emptying in the event of an extreme earthquake at La Hague (along with dismantling of the older units nearby, liable to collapse) This notably included the definition of a “hardened safety core*”, the implementation of robust crisis management centres and, if the context so demands, the creation of significant reserves of water usable in extreme situations. In addition, the Comurhex 1 plant at Tricastin, which could not be reinforced in compliance with the post‑ Fukushima requirements, was closed. ASN considers that the progress of post-Fukushima works and the organisational provisions made are satisfactory. Specific challenges for the other nuclear facilities 85 nuclear facilities (in addition to the NPPs) are subject to ASN regulation and oversight * See glossary page 24 14 • Les cahiers de l’ASN • March 2021