On the Penly site in the county of Seine-Maritime, 15 kms north-east of Dieppe, there is a nuclear power plant operated by EDF. It consists of 2 BWR reactors [1], each unit producing 1300 MWe. These reactors were set into service in 1990 and 1992.

The public debate

On January 30th, 2009, the French President of the Republic announced that a second EPR electronuclear type reactor was to be built on the Penly site.

On May 28th 2009, in compliance with the Law of 27th February 2002 [2], EDF applied to the French Commission of Public Debates (CNDP), which on the 1st July 2009, made the decision to organize a public debate on this subject. This Law stipulates that the public can take part in the debate and that the topics should cover the appropriateness, the objectives and the main characteristics of the project. The purpose of the public debate is to inform as wide a population as possible and to allow as many as possible of those concerned to express their opinions (the owner, the public powers, counsellors, members of parliament, associations, experts, the local populations, the general public, etc.) during the project set-up phase before the main characteristics have been determined and in particular, before the decree ordering the public inquiry is declared.

The debate will last 4 months and will be organized by a special Commission from the French Commission of Public Debates (CPDP), set up especially for the project and presided by Mr. Didier Houi. There will be 12 meetings, to be held between the 29th March and the 12th July, 2010.

During these meetings, or else via the CPDP Penly 3's website, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) will be questioned about different regulatory aspects, or points concerning nuclear safety in general and of EPR's in particular. The questions and answers will be available on the CPDP and the ASN websites.

Once the President of the CNDP publishes a report resuming the public debate, EDF, the operator chosen by the Government, will decide within three month after publication of the report, on the principles and conditions to be applied to the continuation of the project. If necessary, EDF will publish a document explaining any major modifications made to the project as was subjected to the public debate.

On closure of the public debate, EDF the future operator, will be authorized to apply to the relevant ministries for permission to build an EPR reactor on the Penly site.

This request will be accompanied by a file containing in particular a detailed drawing of the plant, an environmental impact analysis, the preliminary safety report, a risk control analysis and a dismantling plan.

Once the file is completed, ASN will submit it to the Government for approval.

[1] These are basic nuclear installations (BNI), Nos. 136 and 140.

[2] Law 2002-276 of 27th February 2002 relative to local democracy and decree 2002-1275 of 22nd October 2002 relative to the organizing of public debates and the CNDP.