Cattenom nuclear power plant The Cattenom NPP is situated on the left bank of the river Moselle, 5 km from the town of Thionville and 10 km from Luxembourg and Germany. It comprises four 1,300 Megawatts electric (MWe) Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs) commissioned between 1986 and 1991. Reactors 1, 2, 3 and 4 constitute Basic Nuclear Installations (BNIs) 124, 125, 126 and 137 respectively. ASNR considers that the performance of the Cattenom NPP with regard to nuclear safety and environmental protection is in line with ASNR’s general assessment of the EDF plants. In terms of radiation protection, the Cattenom NPP is considered to be lagging behind. In terms of reactor operation and management, ASNR considers that performance, while at a good level compared with EDF’s other nuclear power plants, is slightly down in relation to previous years. In particular, ASNR has noted a resurgence of significant events when reactors are restarted after an outage for maintenance, some of which are linked to the ability of the operating teams to detect faults during operating manoeuvres. In terms of maintenance, the year 2025 was marked by two reactor shutdowns for maintenance outages, some of which took place at the same time. Maintenance performance was satisfactory overall, with major projects successfully completed (replacement of RCC guide tubes and control rod drive mechanisms). However, the fact that the two shutdowns occurred at the same time undermined the robustness of the site’s maintenance organisation. In terms of environmental protection, ASNR considers that the results are satisfactory overall. However, incidents have highlighted the licensee’s weakness in controlling certain non-nuclear facilities, in particular antiscalant treatment facilities. The year 2025 also saw the completion of ASNR’s review of the application to amend the decisions governing the site’s water discharges and withdrawals, with the regulatory consultations of the licensee, the public and the CLI carried out in the last quarter. In the area of radiation protection, ASNR considers that the site needs to make progress, particularly in controlling the spread of contamination. As in 2023, 2025 was marked by a significant level 2 radiation protection event involving skin contamination of a worker in excess of the annual regulatory limit (see highlight 10 in chapter 9 of the full ASNR Report). The site is aware of the difficulties and has launched a number of initiatives to remedy the situation, the relevance of which will be assessed in the light of results over the coming years. Finally, in terms of occupational safety, ASNR considers that the working environment is generally suitable, and that the site is taking proper account of the points raised for improvement in this area. Grand Est The Châlons‑en‑Champagne and Strasbourg divisions jointly regulate nuclear safety, radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 10 départements of the Grand Est region. In 2025, ASNR conducted 177 inspections in the Grand Est region, of which 76 were in the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in service, 17 in radioactive waste disposal facilities and on the sites of the Fessenheim and Chooz A NPPs currently being decommissioned, 76 in small-scale nuclear activities, 4 in the transport of radioactive substances and 4 concerning approved organisations or approved laboratories. ASNR also carried out 24 days of labour inspections in the NPPs. During the year 2025, 11 significant events declared by the licensees of nuclear installations in the Grand Est region were classified at level 1 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale (INES scale) and 1 significant event was classified at level 2 on the INES scale. In the field of small-scale nuclear activities, 2 significant events were classified at level 1 on the INES scale (in the medical field) and 1 significant event concerning patients was classified at level 2 on the ASN-SFRO scale. 177 inspections 14 ésignificant events on a level greater than or equal to 1 on the INES scale 1 significant event of level 2 or higher on the ASN-SFRO scale 58 ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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