A large number of nuclear installations are located in France, which is home to the world's second largest population of nuclear power plants and fuel cycle installations, as well as numerous research facilities. Regulation of them by ASN is an activity which, although enjoying the benefits of considerable experience feedback, requires constantly rising levels of investment in order to ensure that nuclear safety and radiation protection progress.

Plant ageing

One of the leading issues surrounding regulation of existing installations that is of greatest concern, is the question of ageing. This naturally concerns nuclear power plants, even if those in France are still relatively young, because internationally, only the Chinese power plant population is younger. The 900 MWe reactors, whose average age was 26 in December 2007, are thus more particularly concerned. However, ageing also affects many research facilities, primarily operated by CEA, as some of them have been in operation for more than 40 years. The French situation is comparable to that of other countries with a developed nuclear power generating industry. ASN's role is to ensure that the licensees take account of the ageing phenomena in a manner consistent with their general operating and maintenance strategy.

Decommissioning of nuclear installations

The issue of decommissioning of nuclear installations that have been shut down is a subject of vital importance for ASN, which is devoting ever-rising levels of investment to it. The aim for ASN is to ensure on the one hand that the licensees adopt the solution of immediate decommissioning of their installations which are no longer in operation, to avoid a situation in which all the knowledge of these installations gradually becomes lost, and on the other, that the licensee strategies are consistent in taking account of nuclear safety and radiation protection constraints. ASN is also investing heavily in reviewing the financing dossiers for the decommissioning and radioactive waste management costs, that the licensees are submitting to the Government pursuant to article 20 of the 28 June 2006 Act on the sustainable management of radioactive materials and wastes. ASN will also focus on clarifying the French position with regard to the decommissioning and delicensing of nuclear installations.

Organisational and human factors

In addition, ASN is devoting a large and growing part of its regulatory activities to issues related to organisational and human factors (FOH). Regulation concerns all the conditions surrounding human intervention, in terms of efficiency and safety. The organisations therefore have a crucial role to play in creating and guaranteeing the conditions favourable to improved human performance. With regard to FOH, ASN's actions concern analysis of the organisation in place at the licensees, so that they can fully assume their operational responsibility. ASN does not therefore stipulate a standard organisation or training programme for the persons in charge of operation. ASN also ensures that human and organisational lines of defence are in place, applying the principle of defence in depth. Finally, ASN checks the robustness of the experience feedback arrangements set up by the licensees, particularly to ensure that it does not focus on the individuals concerned.

The nuclear installations periodic safety review

The principle of a safety review every 10 years for all nuclear installations is a key requirement of the TSN Act. Even if this arrangement was already applied to nuclear power plants and the main fuel cycle and research installations, what is new for the other installations is its systematic application and the frequency specified by the Act, constituting a significant workload for ASN, IRSN and the licensees concerned. The periodic safety reviews have two main goals: a conformity review designed to compare the level of safety in the installations with their initial safety reference system in order to identify any deterioration over the course of time, as well as any faults or weaknesses in the safety analysis, plus a safety review which consists in comparing the safety of the installations with the very latest safety standards, in order to further improve the level of safety.

Ensuring that the existing nuclear installations enjoy a constantly improving level of safety is a permanent concern for ASN and one that compels it, and IRSN, to devote evergreater resources.

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