What is the purpose of a periodic safety review? In France, the authorisation to create a nuclear facility is issued by the government after consulting ASNR. This authorisation is granted for an unlimited period. However, an indepth examination of the facility, known as a «periodic safety review», must be carried out every ten years in order to assess the conditions for continued operation of the facility for a further ten years. During such periodic safety reviews, the licensee must ensure that the facility is operated in compliance with the applicable safety rules, and that equipment ageing phenomena are managed appropriately. It must also improve the safety of the facility by bringing it closer in line with the levels achieved by the most recent facilities. Generic phase In 2019, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN*) determined that the general objectives set by EDF for the generic phase of the periodic safety review of the 1,300 MWe reactors were acceptable subject to additional information being provided on certain baseline requirements to be taken into consideration, and the inclusion of additional topics of study. Between 2021 and 2024, ASN analysed the generic studies carried out by EDF on all of the 1,300 MWe reactors, with expert input from IRSN* and the involvement of its Advisory Committees of Experts*. Following this analysis, ASNR issued a position statement on EDF’s generic studies. This is based, in particular, on the requirements setting out the conditions for the continued operation of reactors beyond 40 years. In 2025, these requirements were the subject of an opinion by the Advisory Committee for Nuclear Reactors as well as a public consultation on ASNR’s website. 1 Analysis phase common to all twenty 1,300 MWe reactors ASN’s view on the objectives of the periodic safety review ASNR’s decision on the conditions for continued operation of the 20 reactors Ten-yearly outage of the reactor 2019 2025 Step 1 GENERIC PHASE SPECI Fourth periodic SAFETY REVIEW 4 • Les cahiers de l’ASNR • July 2025
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