The request to modify the Creation Authorisation Decree, concerning the change of package closing technology and the increase in the facility commissioning time frame, is currently being examined, as is the facility commissioning authorisation application. ASN considers that CEA must continue its efforts in the management of the worksite and the work remaining to be done to allow the much-awaited commissioning of this key facility. MELOX PLANT Created in 1990 and operated by Orano Recyclage, the Melox plant (BNI 151) produces MOX fuel which consists of a mix of uranium and plutonium oxides. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection is broadly satisfactory in the areas of pressure equipment, external hazards, safety management, maintenance, waste, design and constructions, and fraud. An inspection on the follow-ups to the periodic safety review, for which the concluding report was submitted in September 2021, found that the safety review action plan is implemented satisfactorily and it is well tracked. The effectiveness of the containment barriers is maintained at a satisfactory level. Breaks in containment, which can occur under normal operating conditions, are subject to specific monitoring and measures to limit them, such as using specific reinforced gloves. In the last few years the licensee has had difficulties in producing the planned quantities of fuel conforming to the safety specifications of the nuclear reactors. This situation has led to the production of a large quantity of manufacturing rejects, which are sent to the La Hague site for interim storage, resulting in a risk in the short term of reaching the maximum capacity of the plant’s plutonium-bearing material storage areas. The entire “fuel cycle” and French nuclear power generation could be destabilised by these problems. Making up for several years of degraded operation of the facility moreover induces substantial maintenance requirements in the Melox plant. The numerous maintenance activities have consequences in terms of radiation protection, with a growing reliance on outside contractors and a very high collective dosimetry. To overcome the production difficulties, the licensee qualified a new uranium oxide powder in 2022 which has, since 2023, enabled the quantity of rejects generated to be reduced. This improvement must be maintained and confirmed over the longer term. This new powder, produced by a new supplier – the Orano site of Malvési (see chapter 12 of the full ASN Report) – is currently being qualified. Several other actions are implemented to ensure that the improvement in the plant’s productivity and the radiation protection of its workers lasts over the long term. First, the licensee is deploying a project called “GOMOX” which includes, among other things, the doubling of certain key elements of the plant production line. The secondary dosing station installation work was thus authorised by resolution CODEP-MRS-2024-040128 of 26 July 2024. The licensee also cleans out the glove boxes regularly and very thoroughly to reduce the ambient dose levels. Lastly, it is deploying a major maintenance programme (“PPRM” project) which aims to restore the production equipment availability rates. This programme continued in 2024. The maintenance teams were reinforced by Orano personnel in 2024. CENTRACO PLANT The Centraco plant (BNI 160), was created in 1996 and is operated by Cyclife France, a 100% subsidiary of EDF. The Centraco plant sorts, decontaminates, reuses, treats and packages - particularly by reducing their volume - waste and effluents with low and very low levels of radioactivity. The waste resulting from its process is then routed to the Aube repository (CSA) of the National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra). The facility comprises: ∙ a melting unit, melting a maximum of 3,500 tonnes (t) of metallic waste per year; ∙ an incineration unit, in which the incinerable waste is burned, with a maximum of 3,000 t of solid waste and 2,000 t of liquid waste per year; ∙ and storage areas. ASN considers that the nuclear safety of the facility in 2024 is broadly satisfactory, particularly regarding the management of deviations observed in inspections. This general assessment of the licensee’s organisation must however be nuanced by the consecutive notifications of three significant events relating to the preparation of maintenance operations. In effect, major shortcomings in the preparation of these operations were discovered during the reactive inspection conducted by ASN. A new organisation to enhance the reliability of safety-related maintenance operations was to be set up by the end of 2024. Furthermore, a situational exercise leading to deployment of the emergency command post ran satisfactorily. The facility’s periodic safety review concluding report was submitted on 18 February 2021 in accordance with ASN resolution 2014-DC-0446 of 17 July 2014. This file is still being examined. An inspection on the theme of meeting commitments found that tracking of commitments made further to the periodic safety review can be improved. Moreover, ASNR is finalising the revision of the facility’s discharge authorisations to take into account, when justified, the European Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) with regard to industrial emissions from incineration plants in order to attain a high level of environmental protection through the prevention and reduction of pollution. 86 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Regional overview of nuclear safety and radiation protection OCCITANIE
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