Occitanie REGION The Bordeaux and Marseille divisions jointly regulate nuclear safety, radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 13 départements of the Occitanie region. In 2023, ASN carried out 118 inspections in the Occitanie region, comprising 53 in the Basic Nuclear Installations (BNIs), 53 in small-scale nuclear facilities, nine in the area of Radioactive Substance Transport (TSR) and three concerning ASN-approved organisations and laboratories. ASN also carried out ten days of labour inspection at the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). During 2023, two significant events rated level 1 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale (INES scale) were reported by the NPP licensees of the nuclear installations in the Occitanie region. In small-scale nuclear activities, two significant radiation protection events rated level 1 on the INES scale were reported to ASN (one in the industrial sector and one in the medical sector). ASN inspectors issued one violation report in the exercise of their oversight duties. GOLFECH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Golfech NPP operated by EDF is located in the Tarn‑et‑Garonne département, 40 km west of Montauban. It comprises two Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), each of 1,300 Megawatts electric (MWe), commissioned in 1990 and 1993. Reactors 1 and 2 constitute BNIs 135 and 142 respectively. ASN considers that the performance of the Golfech NPP with regard to nuclear safety, environmental protection and radiation protection is in line with the general assessment of EDF plant performance. In the area of nuclear safety, ASN considers that the NPP’s performance has improved with respect to 2022. The safety rigour plan put in place since 2019 demonstrates senior management’s commitment to improving the site’s nuclear safety performance. Progress has been observed in operator skills during inspections and through the satisfactory accomplishment of sensitive operating transients. ASN nevertheless observes persistent weaknesses in communication between services, in operating rigour and compliance with procedures. ASN considers that the licensee must continue its efforts in the implementation of the action plan to restore the site’s performance in order to consolidate the improvements observed in 2023. With regard to maintenance, 2023 was marked by the continuation of the ten-yearly outage of reactor 1 and the shutdown of reactor 2 for about six months. In its management of the stress corrosion phenomenon that affected certain pipes connected to the primary system, the Golfech site replaced the pipes of the safety injection system cold leg on both reactors in 2023. The work undertaken by the site to improve the quality of maintenance has stabilised its performance in this area. ASN notes more particularly improvements in the identification and addressing of deviations and the integration of the positions of the independent safety organisation. ASN nevertheless considers that the site must increase its efforts to improve assimilation of the safety risks prior to work interventions. ASN considers that the site’s occupational radiation protection performance has improved with respect to 2022. ASN notes the strong involvement of the members of the occupational radiation protection skills centre in the training courses and the tightened radiation protection monitoring of outside contractors. The nature of the radiation protection events reported by the licensee reflects this progress. Improvements are nevertheless expected in the control of doses during reactor outages and in the observance of the procedures for accessing limited-stay (orange) areas. In the area of environmental protection, ASN expects to see improvements in the control of containment and discharges. The year was marked by a relatively large number of events that could have an impact on the environment. Concerning labour inspection, ASN considers that there is a slight improvement in occupational safety results. However, 2023 was marked by one severe accident. Improvements are expected in the observance of the requirements of the Labour Code, particularly regarding on-site traffic with respect to the risk of collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle. Work at height, handling and lifting are activities that always require particular and continuous attention. The ASN considers that coordination of the risks associated with the interface between different activities must be improved, as must the quality of activity preparations. 82 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023
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