France: Nuclear safety: an “unjustified” reform

"The relaunch of the project to merge the French nuclear safety institutions has raised the alarm of the unions, who denounce the potential consequences, stating that this reform will permanently disorganize the system without clear justification from the powers that be, and ignoring the risks and impacts identified by employee representatives. The intersyndicale is calling for vigorous opposition from all concerned to protect employee interests and preserve transparency and expertise in the field of nuclear safety."

Partagez:

The merger of France’s two nuclear safety institutions “will bring lasting disruption to the system”, reacted the trade unions of the Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) on Thursday, the day after the Elysée announced the relaunch of the project.

Controversial nuclear reform: unions warn of potential consequences

“The government has still not justified its project”, and conversely has not “identified” its risks and consequences, stress the CFDT, CGT and CFE-CGC unions in a press release.

A Nuclear Policy Council convened by Emmanuel Macron relaunched plans to merge the ASN and IRSN, after an initial attempt was rejected by Parliament in April. The Elysée cites a report produced by two elected members of Opecst (Office parlementaire des choix scientifiques), which concludes that it is necessary to merge the two institutions in view of the expected increase in workload with the revival of the atom.

But for the inter-union group, this report “partial, biased and irrelevant (…) cannot serve as a basis for launching a reform of such scope, unless one considers that this reform is above all political”.

“This reform, undertaken at a time when IRSN and ASN employees have already been working for several months on the nuclear revival program, will cause lasting disruption to the system and lead to resignations,” she warns. “No one can believe that a reform on this scale will lead to a new operational organization in one year”, she adds, referring to the Opecst report’s wish to complete the reform by the end of 2024.

Employee representatives list other risks: disorganization of safety expertise for national defense installations, inability to participate in major research projects, disappearance of commercial activities, loss of transparency… Finally, they expressed alarm at the fate of the Institute’s employees, who would be left “in the lurch”, calling on “employees of IRSN, ASN, the nuclear industry, researchers, citizens and members of parliament to strongly oppose this project”.

After several decades without funding nuclear projects, the World Bank has formed a strategic partnership with the IAEA to provide technical and financial support to countries integrating nuclear energy into their energy strategies.
South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission officially validates the decommissioning of reactor number one at the Kori plant, initiating an unprecedented project for the national industry scheduled to last until 2037.
Uranium producer enCore Energy surpasses three thousand pounds per day at its Alta Mesa ISR complex and sees three new Texas laws as a strong signal for faster nuclear production permits.
The International Atomic Energy Agency expresses concerns over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles following the abrupt suspension of inspections at key sites disrupted by recent attacks whose consequences remain uncertain.
NPCIL has announced an extension until September 30 for industrial proposals concerning Bharat Small Reactors (BSR), following increased interest from the Indian private sector.
A regional court has upheld the award of two new reactors in the Czech Republic to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, dismissing Électricité de France’s challenge to the €16bn contract in a decisive step for the national energy programme.
Facing rising temperatures, EDF anticipates cuts in nuclear production starting early July, primarily due to thermal constraints on rivers used for cooling the power plants.
The preliminary agreement launches planning and site assessment for a tailored AP1000 reactor, following two years of feasibility study, and enlists Westinghouse and Hyundai to support Fortum’s regional nuclear expansion.
Donald Trump's unprecedented decision to dismiss Christopher Hanson, a member of the NRC, provokes outrage among former federal officials and raises concerns over the regulatory independence of the U.S. nuclear sector.
Uranium Energy Corp strengthens its position in Anfield Energy Inc., now holding approximately 32.4% of the company’s shares following an investment of CAD19.55mn ($14.82mn), significantly expanding its strategic influence in the uranium market.
New York State plans an advanced nuclear power plant with a 1-gigawatt capacity to meet long-term energy and economic goals, involving significant investment to enhance regional energy independence.
Niger announces its intention to nationalize SOMAÏR, a mining company jointly owned with Orano, provoking strong opposition from the French company and paving the way for further international legal tensions.
Russia strengthens its economic presence in Mali with new agreements, notably in nuclear energy and gold refining, consolidating strategic cooperation within a rapidly evolving geopolitical context.
The US government grants a fourth payment of $100.45 mn to Holtec International to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant, pending regulatory approval, marking an unprecedented event in the United States.
EDF announces a major agreement with Apollo to raise up to £4.5 billion via bonds to finance the British nuclear project Hinkley Point C, whose costs continue to rise significantly.
The Élysée proposes Anne-Isabelle Étienvre, current Director of Fundamental Research at the CEA, as General Administrator to replace François Jacq, recently appointed President of CNES.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced his country's interest in small modular nuclear reactors to meet national energy challenges and decarbonize the maritime sector within the next fifteen years.
TerraPower, an American nuclear company, secures $650 million funding from investors, including NVIDIA, to develop its Natrium modular reactors in the United States and internationally.
EDF and the French state finalize a €70 billion financing plan for six EPR2 nuclear reactors, including a specific territorial coordination framework in Gravelines led by Michel Marbaix, awaiting European approval by 2026.
Maire S.p.A and Newcleo form strategic partnership to industrialise the development of 200 MW modular nuclear power plants, via a joint venture majority-owned by Nextchem.