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Merger of nuclear safety in France: IRSN takes part

IRSN participates in the creation of a major nuclear safety authority in France, despite concerns. The French government is relaunching plans to merge its institutions in order to adapt nuclear safety to the challenges of the nuclear revival.

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The Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) said on Friday that it would “play an active role” in the creation of the “major independent authority” for civil nuclear safety in France called for by the French government, but that it would “keep a watchful eye” on its resources and missions.

French executive relaunches plan to merge nuclear safety institutions despite concerns

The plan to merge the two institutions currently responsible for nuclear safety in France – the Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN), which issues operating permits for power plants, and IRSN, which provides technical expertise – has been relaunched by the executive after being rejected by Parliament in April.

In a press release issued on Friday, IRSN warns that it “will play an active part in the development of this proposed ‘major independent authority'”, but “will ensure, as the CPN (Nuclear Policy Council) wishes, that all the missions of ASN and IRSN are preserved and their human resources strengthened”.

Since the spring, researchers and politicians have been mobilizing against the planned merger of the two institutes, fearing a loss of transparency and independence, as well as a lower quality of expertise.

A CPN meeting at the Élysée Palace on July 19 “confirmed the government’s determination” to move forward with the creation of this major independent authority, recalls the IRSN press release.

According to the French government, “this new authority will make it possible to adapt nuclear safety to the three challenges of the nuclear revival, namely the extension of existing power plants, the construction of new EPRs and the development of innovative small modular reactors”.

A bill is expected “by autumn”, following consultations to be led by Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher with stakeholders and members of parliament.

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