Chicade laboratory – CEA CENTRE Since 1993, the Chicade facility (BNI 156) has been conducting research and development work on low and intermediate-level objects and waste, chiefly involving: ∙ the destructive and non-destructive characterisation of radioactive objects, waste sample packages and irradiating objects; ∙ the development and qualification of nuclear measurement systems; ∙ the development and implementation of chemical and radiochemical analysis methods; ∙ the expert assessment and inspection of waste packages packaged by the waste producers. CEA had difficulty in 2024 in obtaining concrete of adequate quality to produce the waste packages in the unit for packaging disused sealed sources in packages baptised “870L Vrac Source”, a packaging unit authorised by an ASN resolution in 2023. Five packages were packaged in 2024. Examination of the request to modify the facility’s Creation Authorisation Decree (DAC) continued in 2024. This request aims more specifically to change the perimeter of the facility in order to integrate the gravity drainage well, along with outside storage areas and, concerning environmental protection, permit gaseous discharges of radioactive effluents. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection is broadly satisfactory. The licensee must nevertheless be vigilant and inform ASNR of the slippage in the prescribed deadlines for the implementation of certain actions identified further to the conclusions of its last periodic safety review. Cedra storage facility – CEA CENTRE Since 2006, the Cedra facility (BNI 164) is used to store ILW-LL waste pending the creation of appropriate disposal routes. The CEA forecasts that this facility will be filled to capacity by 2030. The studies concerning a project to double the storage capacity began in 2020. CEA presented a first facility extension project to ASN in late 2024 (phase 3) which will be the subject of a noteworthy modification request in order to push back the date by which the storage areas are filled to capacity, today estimated to be approximately 2032. Complements to the periodic safety review concluding report were submitted to ASN in the course of 2024. The expert assessment of this report has been started and will continue in 2025. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection in the facility is broadly satisfactory. ASN considers that the tracking of the licensee’s commitments further to the inspections is satisfactory. Nevertheless, improvements are still required in the monitoring of the work performed in the facilities by outside contractors, particularly as regards the traceability of monitoring, and building on lessons learned from past events, which can be better integrated in the monitoring plans. Magenta storage warehouse – CEA CENTRE The Magenta facility (BNI 169), which replaces the MCMF currently being decommissioned, has been dedicated since 2011 to the storage of non-irradiated fissile material and the non-destructive characterisation of the nuclear materials received. In 2024, CEA submitted the modification authorisation applications to extend the scope of operation of the facility and in particular the type of material received. These applications have been examined and authorised by ASN. ASN continued the examination of the periodic safety review concluding report submitted in 2021. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection of the facility is broadly satisfactory, particularly on the inspected themes of management of the fire risk and risks of counterfeits, falsifications and suspicions of fraud. Advanced effluent management and treatment facility – CEA CENTRE The Effluent advanced management and processing facility (Agate – BNI 171), commissioned in 2014 to replace BNI 37-B which is now shut down, uses an evaporation process to concentrate radioactive liquid effluents containing mainly beta- and gamma-emitting radionuclides. In 2024, CEA submitted a new request to modify the facility’s DAC, to allow the treatment of new types of radioactive effluents and to have new outlets for treating the concentrates produced, as ASN deemed inadmissible the first request made in 2023. This request is currently being examined by ASNR. CEA also submitted the concluding report of its first periodic safety review to ASN on 25 April 2024. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection of the facility is satisfactory. The licensee must nevertheless consolidate and improve the traceability of outside contractor monitoring. ASN underlines that this facility plays a central role in the management of the CEA effluents and as such constitutes a sensitive facility in the CEA’s decommissioning and material and waste management strategy. Jules Horowitz Reactor project – CEA CENTRE The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR – BNI 172), under construction since 2009, is a pressurised-water research reactor designed to study the behaviour of materials under irradiation and of power reactor fuels. It will also allow the production of artificial radionuclides for nuclear medicine. Its power is limited to 100 MWth. The year 2024 saw the continuation of the construction and equipment manufacturing activities of many workpackages of the JHR worksite, notably in the reactor building with the launching of the primary heat exchanger repairs, and in the nuclear auxiliary building with the finalisation of the storage pools and the channels, and the work on the hot cell equipment. ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 95 Regional overview of nuclear safety and radiation protection PROVENCE‑ALPES‑CÔTE D’AZUR
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