SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

IRSN criticizes a parliamentary report on nuclear safety.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

On Wednesday, trade unions at IRSN, France’s nuclear safety expert, sharply criticized a parliamentary report published the previous day on the reorganization of nuclear safety as “partial and biased”.

Controversy surrounding the merger of IRSN and ASN: Unions denounce incomplete report

The report recommends the merger of the Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) and the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, the French nuclear power plant regulator, a controversial reform that the French government is keen to push through as part of its drive to revitalize nuclear power in France.

“Where is the complete, transparent and rigorous diagnosis? The IRSN inter-union group thought that the Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Choices (Opecst) would carry out serious work on the consequences of reorganizing ASN and IRSN. We’re a long way from that,” emphasize the CFDT, CFE-CGC and CGT unions in a press release, who believe that Opecst has placed itself “at the service of the government”.

The report “does not get to the heart of the impact analysis, and even glosses over certain negative consequences”, they lament. Focused on activities related to plant safety, they say it fails to address “the impact of the proposed merger on national defense installations, radiation protection of populations, surveillance of the territory, research…”. “The recommendations made by IRSN and ASN in favor of the merger appear to be totally off the mark. And the speed with which the Minister for Energy Transition reacted, announcing that this report enabled her to propose to the President of the Republic that he reconsider the merger project, even suggests that this process was programmed in advance,” add the staff representatives.

The unions are once again calling for “a pluralist diagnosis of the existing system”, in the face of a proposed merger that they believe will “degrade the research-expertise-decision process, which is the guarantor of the safety of nuclear facilities”. In April, the government had failed in Parliament to merge IRSN and ASN in express mode, a reform designed to “fluidify” decisions, according to the government.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Orazul Energy launches cash tender offer for its 2027 notes
Iraq in talks with ExxonMobil for refining capacities in Asia
Greek shipowners cut Russian crude links under new compliance rules
NatPower Marine and Wah Kwong launch electric port network across 30 Asian ports
Westinghouse and EDF reactors deemed viable for Slovenia’s JEK2 nuclear project
France positions itself on small modular reactors with eleven key recommendations
The French Energy Regulatory Commission outlines a structured plan to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors, focusing on industrial heat and series effects to enhance competitiveness.
Nuclearn raises $10.5mn to expand automation in nuclear power plants
US-based Nuclearn has secured $10.5mn to scale its artificial intelligence platform, already deployed in over 65 nuclear reactors, to automate critical operations amid rising energy demand.
The inner dome of Haiyang 4 reactor successfully installed in China
The steel dome of the CAP1000 Haiyang 4 reactor has been positioned, a major construction milestone paving the way for upcoming maintenance and technical installation phases.
French and Belgian nuclear industry groups sign strategic cooperation agreement
The Groupement des Industriels Français de l'Énergie Nucléaire and the Belgian Nuclear Forum formalise a partnership aimed at strengthening industrial exchanges and joint projects between the two countries’ nuclear sectors.
IAEA urges Iran to resume nuclear inspections as time runs out
The International Atomic Energy Agency warns that little time remains to reach an agreement with Iran on fully resuming inspections, as European sanctions could be reimposed within 30 days.
Oklo invests $1.7bn in nuclear recycling plant in Tennessee
US-based Oklo will build the country’s first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling centre in Oak Ridge, investing $1.7bn and creating over 800 jobs.
TVA and ENTRA1 seal historic agreement for 6 GW of SMR reactors in the United States
The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
IAEA: Iran held 440.9 kg at 60% before Israeli strikes
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
Westinghouse strengthens UK supply chain for nuclear reactors
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear secures $1.25mn contract for KRONOS MMR microreactor
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends two nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom until March 2028
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Rosatom prepares new nuclear projects in India and Turkey
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
Uranium traces detected in Syria at site linked to former Israeli airstrike
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norway launches assessment process for two nuclear projects
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
India accelerates its nuclear program to join the global top 5
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
Paris and Berlin agree on an energy roadmap including nuclear power
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Putin and Pezeshkian to discuss Iranian nuclear program under European pressure
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
Natura Resources secures federal and Texas backing for molten salt reactor
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
Seoul and Washington open talks on nuclear fuel reprocessing
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
AP1000 reactor certification extended in the US until 2046
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.