In the news

Published on 27/12/2019 • 10:39 am

Reactor 2 of the Penly NPP: a significant safety event rated level 2 on the INES scale

On 18 December 2019, EDF reported a significant safety event relating to defective electrical components which put the backup systems of the Penly NPP reactor 2 out of service. The equipment ensuring the safety of each NPP reactor is supplied with electrical power via two redundant electrical panels (channels A and B). These electrical panels supply power to the motors that actuate the valves and pumps of the backup systems and the reactor instrumentation and control panels.

Published on 24/12/2019 • 11:20 am

Generic phase of the fourth periodic safety reviews of the 1300 MWe reactors

On 11 December 2019, ASN issued a position statement on the orientations of the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of EDF’s 1300 MWe nuclear reactors. ASN considers that the general objectives set by EDF for this review are acceptable in principle. However, it asks EDF to modify or supplement these general objectives for this safety review, to consider certain baseline requirements for reassessment of the safety of its facilities and to add study topics to its review programme. The requests made by ASN are to a large extent based on those made in 2016 for the fourth periodic safety review of the 900 MWe reactors.

Published on 23/12/2019 • 02:37 pm

ASN takes stock of the earthquake resistance of the French nuclear power plants

In the wake of the Teil earthquake of 11 November 2019, ASN takes stock of the earthquake resistance of the French nuclear power plants. Earthquakes form part of the natural risks that nuclear facilities must be able to withstand. Seismic protection measures are taken at the installation design stage and reviewed every ten years during the periodic safety reviews to take account of developments in knowledge and changes in regulations.

Published on 29/10/2019 • 12:48 pm

Manufacturing deviation at Framatome stress-relieving heat treatment of welds

On 9th September 2019, EDF informed ASN of a deviation concerning the manufacture of nuclear pressure equipment installed in its reactors, and primarily steam generators. During the stress-relieving heat treatment applied to the welds made to assemble nuclear pressure equipment components, the required temperature range has not been respected over the entire area to treat.

News releases

Published on 20/12/2019 • 12:13 pm

Teil earthquake of 11 November 2011

In the wake of the Teil earthquake of 11 November 2019, ASN takes stock of the earthquake resistance of the French nuclear power plants

Published on 18/11/2019 • 03:24 pm

ASN promotes initiatives in favour of justifying imaging examinations in France

In France, medical applications represent the primary source of artificial exposure of the public to ionising radiation. This exposure is rising, mainly...

Published on 14/11/2019 • 05:54 pm

Consequences of the earthquake in the Rhone valley

On 11 November 2019, at about 12h, an earthquake struck the Rhone valley. ASN mobilised its personnel to conduct a review with all the licensees operating...

Published on 06/11/2019 • 10:00 am

Olivier Gupta is elected Chair of WENRA

Olivier Gupta, ASN Director General, has just been elected Chair of WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association ) , by his European peers....

Published on 22/10/2019 • 12:56 pm

IAEA General Conference in Vienna (Austria)

Bernard Doroszczuk, ASN Chairman, and several members of the ASN Commission and Director General’s office, took part in various meetings with the heads...

Published on 22/10/2019 • 12:06 pm

Fourth periodic safety reviews of the 1300 MWe reactors

ASN submits for public consultation its draft position statement on the orientations of the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety reviews of the...

Published on 22/10/2019 • 11:43 am

French national report for the Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety 2020

The eighth French national report drawn up in preparation for the Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety to be held in 2020 was published...

Published on 11/10/2019 • 03:28 pm

Public dialogue on improving the safety of French 900 MWe nuclear reactors

From 6 September 2018 to 31 March 2019, in accordance with its mission, France’s High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Security (HCTISN)...

Published on 20/09/2019 • 02:56 pm

Bituminous nuclear waste packages

Nearly 80,000 packages of nuclear waste have been processed by bituminisation since 1966. 50,000 of these bituminous waste packages are in principle to...

Published on 20/09/2019 • 02:36 pm

Flamanville NPP 1 and 2: ASN places the site under reinforced surveillance

ASN has decided to place the Flamanville NPP under reinforced surveillance in the light of the difficulties encountered by EDF on this NPP since mid-2018.

Published on 20/08/2019 • 10:00 am

Irregularities detected at the metallurgist Aubert et Duval

In December 2018, Eramet (a French mining and metallurgical group) published on its website a report of nonconformities in the quality management system...

Published on 12/08/2019 • 03:14 pm

Extension of the off-site emergency plans around the french nuclear power plants

The extension of the radius of the Off-site Emergency Plan from 10 to 20 km, decided on by the Government, aims to optimise the response by the authorities,...

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Regulatory Updates Newsletter

Regulatory Updates is the monthly newsletter of the French Nuclear Safety Authority. It keeps you informed on ASN national and international activities as well as on the current events of the nuclear installations under its control.
It is regularly distributed to ASN counterparts at international meetings.

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