SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Nuclear safety in France: IRSN sounds the alarm

IRSN's Board of Directors is sounding the alarm about the risks of abolishing the institute in a government reorganization project. The unions fear for nuclear safety in the event of the departure of staff and for France's capacity for expertise in this field.

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

The Board of Directors of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) voted on Thursday for a motion warning of the risk of “paralysis” of nuclear safety that would be posed by the abolition of the institute planned in a government reorganization project. According to the inter-union of the institute, the motion was voted by a very large majority (18 votes for, 4 against, 2 abstentions). The unions fear the end of the “dual” structure of the French safety system (ASN/IRSN), and some see it as a way of bringing the institute into line. They also fear that the research branch of IRSN, which provided expertise, will be transferred to the CEA.

 

The government wants to abolish the IRSN

On February 8, the government announced its intention to abolish the IRSN, a watchdog and expert on radiological risk, in order to “make the examination process more fluid”. The experts and scientists would join the teams of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).

 

A “diaspora” of IRSN experts

A “diaspora” of IRSN experts “would have the consequence of depriving France of its research and expertise capacity at a crucial time marked by the challenges of extending the life of existing reactors and the creation of new generation reactors,” the motion emphasizes. The Board of Directors also reminds the government in this motion of the role of IRSN in “the protection of workers, the population and the environment against ionizing radiation with a broad spectrum, crisis management and post-accident situations, and the uses of radioactivity in the industrial, medical and military fields”.

The unions intend to share their fears with the Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who is due to meet with them late Friday. On Monday, they plan to come back a little more numerous, in order to demonstrate under the windows of the ministry, with the employees on strike that day.

 

A first recognition

If this motion has a “symbolic significance”, with regard to the composition of the Board of Directors, “it means that representatives of the State have voted for this resolution”, according to the inter-union, which sees it as “a first recognition of what we defend”.

 

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Italian judge approves extradition of Ukrainian linked to Nord Stream sabotage
Bringing forward the EU gas ban would push up TTF in Central Europe
Nexans installs record-breaking 2,150-metre deep power cable in Italy
MCF Energy reaches 3,310 metres on the Kinsau-1A well in Germany
Global solar photovoltaic installers market to reach $651bn by 2030
enCore Energy secures key federal ruling for Dewey Burdock uranium project
Validation of underground injection permits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthens Dewey Burdock’s regulatory position and paves the way for state permitting expected in 2025.
Southeast Asia plans $208bn investment to develop nuclear power by 2050
Facing energy security challenges, several Southeast Asian countries are turning to nuclear and could invest up to $208bn to reach 25 GW of capacity, favouring small modular reactors.
London and Washington commit to accelerating bilateral nuclear projects
A strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States aims to shorten nuclear licensing timelines and strengthen industrial cooperation around fusion and modular reactors.
IAEA revises nuclear growth forecasts upward through 2050
The International Atomic Energy Agency projects global nuclear capacity to reach 992 GW by 2050, driven by small modular reactors and lifetime extensions of existing plants.
Premier American Uranium targets merger completion with Nuclear Fuels by September 19
Premier American Uranium and Nuclear Fuels have announced a target date of around September 19 to finalise their strategic consolidation, pending final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
Nuclear energy retained in the European Union green taxonomy
The General Court of the European Union has rejected Austria’s appeal against the inclusion of gas and nuclear energy in the classification of sustainable investments.
Kazakhstan entrusts German Nukem with oversight of its nuclear back-end
Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Nukem Technologies Engineering Services GmbH to benefit from German expertise in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
European court annuls EU approval of state aid for Hungary’s Paks II nuclear project
The European Court of Justice annulled the European Commission's authorisation of Hungarian state aid for the Paks II nuclear project, questioning compliance with EU public procurement rules.
A CNY4.2bn contract awarded for China’s Xuwei nuclear project
A Chinese consortium has secured a CNY4.2bn ($594mn) contract for the construction of conventional islands for the Xuwei nuclear project, combining third and fourth generation reactors.
Rosatom and CNNC formalise cooperation agreement on nuclear training
Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in talent development and skills training in the nuclear sector.
Iran and IAEA sign technical agreement to restart nuclear inspections
Iran has reached a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to formalise the resumption of inspections, following months of suspension linked to military tensions and criticism of its nuclear programme.
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.
Westinghouse and EDF reactors deemed viable for Slovenia’s JEK2 nuclear project
Slovenia’s JEK2 project moves forward with two nuclear technologies judged technically compatible, estimated between EUR9.31bn ($10.1bn) and EUR15.37bn ($16.66bn).
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.

Log in to read this article

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