Individual nuclear power plant assessments ASNR’s assessments of each NPP are detailed in the Regional Overview section of this report. With regard to safety, the Civaux NPP and, to a lesser extent, the Saint-Alban NPP, stood out positively in 2025. The Gravelines and Dampierre‑en‑Burly NPPs, however, under-performed by comparison with the other NPPs operated by EDF. With regard to radiation protection, the Civaux, Chooz and SaintAlban NPPs stood out positively. Conversely, ASNR considers that the Cruas-Meysse, Cattenom and Gravelines NPPs had under-performed. With regard to environmental protection, the Dampierre‑en‑Burly and Tricastin NPPs stood out positively, while the Paluel and Flamanville plants under-performed. Nuclear power plants being decommissioned and waste management facilities In 2025, EDF continued to decommission or prepare for the decommissioning of its facilities. ASNR notes that good progress has been made on some projects (Fessenheim, Superphénix), but highlights delays on others. ASNR considers that EDF must remain vigilant to ensure that projects progress smoothly, while maintaining satisfactory safety and radiation protection conditions. ASNR considers that EDF’s facilities undergoing decommissioning or being prepared for decommissioning are generally well maintained. However, efforts must be made by EDF at the Chooz A worksite to improve overall control of worksites and of radiation protection for the workers involved. ASNR is particularly vigilant on this issue, especially as 2026 will see an increase in the number of decommissioning projects across the various sites operated by EDF/DP2D (Decommissioning and Waste Projects Division). INSTALLATIONS SHUT DOWN OR UNDERGOING DECOMMISSIONING The reactors operated by EDF finally shut down or undergoing decommissioning (Brennilis, Chooz A, Fessenheim, Superphénix, Gas-Cooled Reactors – GCRs) no longer contain any spent fuel. The main safety issues therefore concern the containment of radioactive substances and radiation protection. Some installations also present an additional risk linked to the presence of asbestos, sometimes combined with the presence of radiological contaminations, which makes the intervention conditions more complex. ASNR notes positively that almost all the preparatory work for decommissioning the Fessenheim facility was completed in 2025. Work is proceeding according to plan, so that the installation achieves the initial state planned for entry into force of the future decommissioning decree, scheduled for 2026. At the Chooz A decommissioning worksite, a major milestone was reached by EDF in March 2025 with the lifting of the reactor vessel in preparation for cutting up. While decommissioning work in the caverns is being stepped up, a deterioration in operational performance and worker radiation protection has been observed. ASNR considers that EDF must improve the performance of this site, which will be the subject of tightened surveillance by ASNR in 2026. ASNR will also remain vigilant with regard to the satisfactory performance of the various steps in the decommissioning at the Irradiated Materials Facility (AMI) at Chinon (BNI 94), where the main operations are experiencing significant delays. With regard to the GCRs, in 2025 EDF continued the “out of vessel” decommissioning work on the reactors at Saint-Laurent A, Bugey 1 and Chinon A3 in satisfactory safety conditions. However, there were delays on some activities, mainly due to contractual difficulties. Examination of the decommissioning files for the six GCRs continued in 2025, with a technical expert assessment underway. ASNR additionally checked EDF’s organisational arrangements for managing these projects. ASNR notes that the project management arrangements developed by EDF appear to be robust, with appropriate management of planning. Certain points requiring particular attention were highlighted, in particular with regard to the preservation of knowledge and the up-to-date monitoring of “project risks” (see chapter 10 of the full ASNR Report). THE SPENT FUEL AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES With regard to its facilities in operation, EDF is carrying out numerous equipment upgrades in the Superphénix spent fuel storage unit (Apec), which is satisfactory. ASNR considers that EDF must continue to consolidate the radioactive waste retrieval projects, notably the soda blocks stored in the Apec and the graphite sleeves contained in the Saint-Laurent silos. For this latter project, ASNR notes with concern the postponement of the deadlines for waste retrieval. It emphasises the importance of achieving a sufficient level of project maturity and adequate safety provisions for the future storage of the graphite sleeves, particularly in the scenario where a storage route is not yet available when they are removed from the reactors being decommissioned. 22 ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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