SITES UNDERGOING DECOMMISSIONING Superphénix reactor and fuel storage facility The Superphénix fast neutron reactor (BNI 91), a 1,200 MWe sodium-cooled industrial prototype is situated at CreysMalville in the Isère département. It was definitively shut down in 1997. The reactor has been unloaded and the majority of the sodium has been neutralised and conditioned in concrete blocks. Superphénix is associated with another BNI, the Apec fuel storage facility (BNI 141). The Apec essentially comprises a pool containing the fuel unloaded from the reactor pressure vessel and the area for storing the soda concrete packages resulting from neutralisation of the sodium from Superphénix. In 2018, ASN authorised commencement of the second Superphénix decommissioning phase, which consists in opening the reactor pressure vessel to dismantle its internal components. In 2024, the licensee finalised the decommissioning of the reactor core closure plug and extracted the lateral neutron shield support – a massive activated and particularly irradiating part – from the reactor vessel, for cutting up in a dedicated unit using remotelyoperated means. Alongside the decommissioning operations, the licensee has started a major equipment obsolescence management programme, mainly concerning BNI 141, which in the coming years will lead to the replacement of the pool cooling system air heaters, the emergency diesel generator sets and complete renovation of the instrumentation and control of BNI 141. In view of the inspections conducted in 2024, ASN considers that the safety of the Superphénix reactor decommissioning operations and of operation of the fuel storage facility is ensured satisfactorily. Tricastin Operational Hot Unit The Tricastin Operational Hot unit (BCOT) constitutes BNI 157. Operated by EDF, it was intended for the maintenance and storage of equipment and tooling, fuel elements excluded, originating from contaminated systems and equipment of the nuclear power reactors. The BCOT is situated in the Orano’s Tricastin site. In a letter dated 22 June 2017, EDF declared final shutdown of the BCOT in June 2020 and its decommissioning was authorised by Decree 2023-1049 of 16 November 2023. On completion of decommissioning, planned for 31 December 2033 at the latest, the cleaned-out buildings shall be returned to Orano. EDF completed the removal of obsolete tools and decontamination and transfer of the cylindrical control rod cluster guide tube containers to Andra’s Industrial centre for collection storage and disposal (Cires) in 2024. The licensee also carried out work to prepare the facility for the next decommissioning operations and continued investigations into the radiological status of the structures with a view to cleaning them out. On 22 March 2024, ASN authorised deployment of the facility’s decommissioning baseline safety requirements. In view of the conclusions of the two inspections of the BCOT in 2024, ASN considers its level of safety to be satisfactory. 46 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Regional overview of nuclear safety and radiation protection AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES
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