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Transparency and Nuclear Safety: The HCTISN calls for expert assessments to be made public before any decision is taken

The French High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety (HCTISN) insists on the publication of risk assessments for nuclear power plants before any decisions are taken, as part of the reform of nuclear safety governance.

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The HCTISN, a diversified advisory body, calls for technical and scientific expertise on nuclear power plant safety to be made public upstream of decision-making. The aim of this request is to maintain and even improve the quality of risk assessments in the nuclear sector.

The need to inform civil society

The HCTISN stresses the importance of informing civil society about the scientific and technical basis for decisions on nuclear safety and radiation protection. This is particularly crucial for the most important decisions.

The Nuclear Safety Governance Bill

The current bill aims to merge the Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) and the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN) into a single entity, the ASNR. The HCTISN has reservations about this project, fearing a step backwards from current law and a loss of transparency.

Concerns of Employees and Experts

ASN and IRSN employees, as well as various experts and elected representatives, are expressing their concerns about the reduced independence of expertise and a potential loss of transparency in the proposed new system.

The Government Response

Faced with concerns, Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher defended the bill, saying that exchanges with employees had been frank and respectful. The bill is due to be presented to the Council of Ministers on December 20, and is due to reach Parliament early next year.

The reform of nuclear safety governance in France is at a crucial turning point, with strong calls for greater transparency and independence in risk assessments. The final decision will have a significant impact on the country’s nuclear safety.

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