NOTABLE EVENTS 2023 Prospects for continued operation of EDF’s nuclear reactors Check on fuel assemblies in the reactor building. Golfech NPP. he French nuclear power reactors were commissioned to a very tight schedule, mainly in the 1980s. Despite the specific aspect of each reactor, this situation could lead to them all being shut down for ageing-related reasons, over a relatively short period of time. Given the time needed to build new electrical production capacity, scheduling their final shutdown takes on particular importance. ASN therefore asked EDF to provide advance justification of the hypothetical continued operation of the current reactors up to and beyond 60 years, by the end of 2024, to allow an in-depth examination leading to an ASN position statement by the end of 2026. Without waiting for this deadline and at the request of the Government, ASN issued an opinion on 13 June 2023 concerning the prospects for the continued operation of EDF’s nuclear reactors up to their 60th year. This opinion covers a preliminary analysis by EDF of the ability of its reactors to continue to function beyond 50 years, along with the corresponding technical issues and challenges. T 16 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 ASN considers that the continued operation of EDF’s existing reactors must be planned well in advance, so that it can be envisaged with no compromises on safety and so that it does not constitute a variable in the adjustment of energy policy. ASN therefore asked EDF to provide advance justification of the hypothetical continued operation of the current reactors up to and beyond 60 years.
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