Nuclear Safety Reform in France: A Critical Turning Point

France is gearing up to reform its nuclear safety governance, a project that is sparking lively debate among experts and civil society alike.

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.

*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

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

Nuclear safety in France is at the dawn of a major transformation. Recently, the Conseil national de la transition écologique (CNTE), a body bringing together NGOs, trade unions, employers and elected representatives, assessed a government reform project aimed at reorganizing the governance of nuclear safety. This project comes against the backdrop of a relaunched nuclear reactor program, with the aim of “streamlining decision-making”.

Key points of the Reform Project

The draft reform proposes to merge the Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), an expert in the field, and the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN), which has decision-making authority over power plants. This proposal aims to optimize decision-making processes, but raises concerns about the independence of expertise and the transparency of decisions.

CNTE’s reactions and concerns

The CNTE, while recognizing the quality of the current nuclear safety organization in France, expresses several reservations. It recommends that the technical opinions justifying any decision by the Authority be made public before any action is taken, thus respecting the principle of public participation in government decisions. Moreover, the CNTE warns against the risk of instability and dispersal of powers that such a reform could engender.

Concerns about Independence and Transparency

Critics of the project, notably elected representatives, experts and UFC-Que Choisir, are alarmed at the potential erosion of the independence of expertise and a reduction in transparency in decision-making. These concerns are amplified by the risk of disruption in the fast-growing sector and the possibility of skilled staff leaving.

Implications for the Future of Nuclear Safety

The government will present the nuclear safety reform bill to the Council of Ministers in December, before submitting it to Parliament early next year, underlining the crucial importance of the outcome of this reform. It will influence not only the safety of France’s nuclear infrastructure, but also the public’s perception of this controversial form of energy.

Reforming nuclear safety in France is a complex challenge, combining technical, political and societal issues. Decisions taken in the coming months will determine not only the effectiveness of nuclear governance, but also public confidence in this essential energy source.

Arkansas has appointed Excel Services to analyse the economic, technological and logistical outlook of a new nuclear programme, with results expected within ten months.
Operator Belgoprocess has received authorisation to build a new facility to store waste generated from the ongoing decommissioning of Belgium’s nuclear reactors.
The British government has launched a consultation on the regulatory justification request for Rolls-Royce’s modular reactor, a decisive step towards its approval in the country’s nuclear market.
GVH and Samsung C&T join forces to accelerate international deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors, with a strong focus on Sweden and the consolidation of the nuclear supply chain.
The Swedish government aims to establish a right to compensation for operators if a political reversal leads to the early shutdown of nuclear plants, in a move to reduce investment risks.
Duke Energy adds a large nuclear reactor project to its 2025 plan for the Carolinas, anticipating electricity demand more than twice previous forecasts.
EDF has selected Arabelle Solutions to supply two complete turbine islands for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, strengthening their industrial cooperation initiated at Hinkley Point C.
The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.
Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.