ASN assessments per licensee EDF The nuclear power plants in operation The quality of operation of the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) remained satisfactory in 2024. The year 2024 was marked by the commissioning authorisation for the Flamanville EPR reactor issued by ASN on 7 May 2024. This authorisation allowed EDF to load nuclear fuel into the reactor vessel and begin the start-up tests. The assessment below concerns the other EDF reactors in operation. The Flamanville EPR reactor is dealt with in the Regional Overview of this report. Reactor improvements and continued operation The modifications made to the facilities and operational methods by EDF within the framework of the periodic safety reviews of the 900 Megawatts electric (MWe) reactors are significantly improving the safety of the facilities, making it possible to aim for the same safety objectives as those of the third generation reactors. EDF is devoting considerable resources to these reviews. ASN notes that deployment of the safety improvements is taking place in good conditions. As EDF embarks on the fourth periodic safety review of the 1,300 MWe reactors, ASN considers that EDF must continue its efforts to prepare for and implement modifications to the installations in good conditions, despite the considerable workload on the engineering teams. Particular attention must also be paid to the assimilation of these modifications by the operators and to their training. The conformity of the facilities The steps taken by EDF for several years now to improve the detection and correction of deviations and to ensure that ASN is informed are satisfactory. More particularly, the specific inspections implemented during the fourth ten-yearly outages are bearing fruit and reinforcing the conformity of the facilities. In 2024, EDF also initiated multi-year programmes which are leading to concrete targeted oversight actions. ASN considers that these new measures will reinforce control of the conformity of the facilities throughout their lifetime. Maintenance EDF correctly managed the reactors outage campaign, which overall indicates that maintenance was well carried out in 2024. ASN also observes that the number of significant events caused by an anomaly during a maintenance operation has fallen since 2022. EDF must continue its ongoing work on the competence of the personnel and improve preparation for maintenance activities, how experience feedback is taken into account and the quality of the risk assessments, against a backdrop of a significant industrial workload linked to continued operation of the reactors and the “Major overhaul” programme. In addition, as in 2023, ASN considers that EDF’s monitoring of manufacturing operations for safety-important equipment in supplier plants is unsatisfactory. EDF has implemented an action plan to address this. Operation The quality of reactor operation and control remained at a satisfactory level in 2024, but certain NPPs are experiencing difficulties. ASN noted positive results in 2024 concerning the measures taken to manage the actual configuration of the systems, including during maintenance work. It also noted efforts made by EDF to improve the situation of the independent safety organisation, notably those aiming to gradually increase its workforce up until 2027. Overall management of the fire risk was also improved, even if the situation is not the same across all the NPPs. However, monitoring in the control room has not been satisfactory for a number of years. Certain anomalies are detected too late by the operating teams. In addition, certain notable events concerning reactivity control should lead EDF to look again at the prevention measures in place. Inspections focusing on the emergency organisation and resources confirmed, as in recent years, that the organisation, preparedness and management principles for emergency situations have been correctly assimilated. EDF must however continue to improve the through-life support of the resources that could be called on in an emergency situation, along with the training of and situational exercises carried out by the personnel concerned. ASN inspections also revealed that EDF must conduct an in-depth revision of the operational documentation defining the steps to be taken outside the control room in an accident situation with core melt. Finally, EDF must continue its efforts regarding preparedness for emergency situations of non-radiological origin. Environmental protection ASN considers that the management of intakes and discharges into the environment of the various NPPs is on the whole satisfactory. However, deviations regarding checks on and monitoring of effluents or the environment, increased in 2024, in particular with regard to bypassing of the normal discharge routes. ASN also expects to see improvements in the use of containment systems capable of managing an accidental spillage of dangerous substances. With regard to waste management, ASN observes that – as in previous years – the situation is continuing to improve. However, progress is still needed regarding the duration and conformity of interim storage facilities, notably with respect to the fire risk and inventory keeping. Worker radiation protection and occupational safety ASN is encouraging EDF to continue its proactive approach to control the sources of worker exposure to ionising radiation, notably with respect to identifying and eliminating the most heavily irradiating areas on the worksites. It also observes that the number of significant events reported concerning industrial radiography work, the radiological consequences of which can be significant, fell by comparison with 2023. ASN however considers that improvements are needed in managing the risk of contamination dispersion within facilities and contamination of workers, as well as in the approach to preventing risks of exposure to ionising radiation for the most vulnerable workers (apprentices under 18 years of age or personnel with a fixed-term contract). ASN Assessments ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 23
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