3.3.2 The 1,300 MWe reactors The third periodic safety review At the beginning of 2015, ASN issued a position statement on the generic aspects of the continued operation of the 1,300 MWe reactors beyond thirty years of operation. On this occasion, ASN underlined the importance of the modifications made by EDF following their third periodic safety review. Within the framework of this review, EDF is notably deploying material and operational modifications in order to mitigate the consequences of an SG tube break accident, to prevent the occurrence of severe accidents with early loss of containment, and to reduce the risk of uncovering the fuel assemblies present in the spent fuel pool. With regard to hazards, EDF is modifying its installations in order to guarantee operation of the equipment needed for the safety of these reactors in the event of a heatwave, to protect the safety-important equipment against projectiles created by strong winds and to prevent the risks of explosion further to an earthquake. To help conclude the generic phase of this review, ASN issued additional requests in 2021 applicable to all the 1,300 MWe reactors, with the aim of reinforcing their safety. The third ten-yearly outages for the 1,300 MWe reactors will run until 2025. The fourth periodic safety review In July 2017, EDF sent ASN the guidelines it envisaged for the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of the 1,300 MWe reactors. In 2019, ASN issued a position statement on these guidelines, after involving the public and consulting the GPR: ASN considered that the general objectives set by EDF for this review are acceptable in principle. Similarly to those adopted for the fourth periodic safety review of the 900 MWe reactors, these objectives aim to demonstrate that in the event of a design basis accident it would not be necessary to implement population protection measures and that, in the event of a severe accident, only population protection measures that are limited in space and time would be required. With regard to the safety of the spent fuel pool, ASN asked EDF to set an objective of no uncovering of the assemblies and to eventually return the installation to and permanently maintain it in a state without pool water boiling. The modifications associated with this periodic safety review will also incorporate those linked to deployment of the “hardened safety core”. In 2024, ASN continued with the examinations performed for the generic phase of this periodic safety review. ASN convened its GPEs on four occasions with respect to hazards, accidents without core melt, severe accidents and the in-service strength of the reactor vessels and changes to the calculation methods used to justify the mechanical strength of the equipment of the MPS and MSS. On the basis of the conclusions of these expert assessments, ASNR will issue a position statement in 2025 on the generic phase of this periodic safety review. EDF will begin the first tenyearly outage associated with this periodic safety review at the beginning of 2026. 3.3.3 The 1,450 MWe reactors The second periodic safety review In 2011, EDF transmitted the envisaged guidelines for the generic study programme for the second periodic safety review of the 1,450 MWe reactors, notably concerning the prevention of core melt and mitigation of the consequences of severe accidents. ASN issued a position statement in February 2015 regarding the guidelines of this second periodic safety review. It in particular asked EDF to look for measures to mitigate the radiological consequences of design-basis accidents and measures with a strong impact in terms of preventing and mitigating the consequences of severe accidents. ASN issued a position statement on this generic phase in 2022. It underlined the significant safety improvements made to the reactors on the occasion of this periodic safety review. The concluding reports for the review of the four 1,450 MWe reactors were submitted between 2020 and 2023. The third periodic safety review After consulting the public and obtaining the opinion of the GPR, ASN issued a position statement in July 2023 regarding the guidelines envisaged by EDF for its study programme of the generic phase of the third periodic safety review of the 1,450 MWe reactors. The periodic safety review will allow definition of the conditions for continued operation of these reactors for up to 40 years. ASN considered that the general objectives set by EDF for this review were acceptable in principle. These objectives are consistent with those set for the fourth periodic safety reviews of the 900 MWe and 1,300 MWe reactors. ASN asked EDF to add to or clarify some of these general objectives, in the same way as it had done for the 900 MWe and 1,300 MWe reactors. The safety reassessment of these reactors and the resulting improvements will be carried out in the light of the safety objectives of the new-generation reactors, such as the EPR, the design of which meets significantly reinforced safety requirements. In addition, the modifications associated with this periodic safety review will incorporate those linked to deployment of the “hardened safety core”. Involvement of the public in the 4th periodic safety review of the 1,300 MWe reactors After having organised technical dialogue days in 2023 with IRSN and the National Association for Local Information Committees and Commissions (Anccli), covering the issues of the fourth periodic safety review of the 1,300 MWe reactors, ASN took part in 2024 in the national consultation held under the aegis of the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety (HCTISN) with regard to the provisions proposed by EDF for the generic phase of this periodic safety review. This national consultation was held from 18 January to 30 September 2024 on a dedicated website, and through public meetings held close to each 1,300 MWe NPP, with the assistance of the CLIs, and during webinars. This national consultation looked at various technical themes, such as ageing of the installations, adaptation to climate change or the prevention and mitigation of the consequences of accidents. ASNR will take account of the conclusions of this prior consultation in preparing its position statement on the generic phase of this periodic safety review, scheduled for 2025. This position statement will itself be the subject of a public consultation on the ASNR website. ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 321 01 The EDF Nuclear Power Plants 10 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 11 12 13 14 15 AP
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