Île‑de‑France In late 2021, the CEA announced a radical change in the decommissioning strategy of BNI 40 with the postponement of commissioning of the equipment for reprocessing and packaging irradiating waste. For the purpose of the assessment, further information on the new decommissioning scenario, particularly regarding the management of irradiating waste, had to be provided. The decommissioning file, submitted by the CEA at the end of 2023, is currently being assessed. Since the shutdown of the Osiris and Isis reactors and pending decommissioning of the facility, the removal of radioactive and hazardous materials and the decommissioning preparation operations are underway, with an organisation adapted to the new state of the facility. More specifically, the last of the irradiated core fuel stored in the facility was removed in 2021. In order to adapt to the increase in waste flows linked to decommissioning preparation operations, CEA has been authorised by ASNR in 2025 to change the waste storage areas within the facility. In addition, the licensee has taken steps to reduce water consumption during the summer period. ASNR considers that the level of safety of BNI 40 is satisfactory. The organisation put in place to keep track of the Decommissioning Preparation Operations is appropriate for the current status of the facility, despite the postponement of operations due to a lack of means. Work schedules are closely monitored. In 2026, ASNR will keep a close eye on the licensee’s control of preparation operations for decommissioning, particularly those on the critical path to achieving the initial state described in the decommissioning file. In addition, the work undertaken by the licensee to ensure management of the skills required for the future operation and decommissioning of the facility must be continued. Orphée reactor The Orphée reactor (BNI 101), a neutron source reactor, was a pool-type research reactor with a licensed power of 14 MWth. The highly compact core is located in a tank of heavy water acting as moderator. Creation of the reactor was authorised by the Decree of 8 March 1978 and its first divergence took place in 1980. It was used for conducting experiments in areas such as physics, biology and physical chemistry. The reactor allowed the introduction of samples to be irradiated for the production of radionuclides or special materials, and the performance of non-destructive tests on certain components. The Orphée reactor, which was definitively shut down at the end of 2019, is now in the Decommissioning Preparation Operations (DECPROs) phase. The licensee submitted its decommissioning file in March 2020. The last irradiated fuel from the Orphée reactor was removed in 2020, greatly reducing the risks the facility represents. The continuation of the DECPROs and the facility decommissioning scenario were discussed following the CEA’s re-prioritising of the DECPROs, resulting in the updating of the decommissioning strategy for BNI 101. A new decommissioning file was submitted at the end of 2023 and it is currently being assessed. After examining the report on the conclusion of the periodic review submitted in 2019, ASNR considered that in 2025 it had no objections to continuing operations to prepare for the decommissioning of BNI 101 and will monitor the progress of the licensee’s action plan. Since the shutdown of the reactor, the DECPRO phase has started, but is subject to recurrent schedule push-backs. In 2025, the DECPROs resumed following a period of pause. However, the management of modifications linked to these operations needs to be improved. ASNR considers that the safety level of the Orphée reactor is generally satisfactory. However, work on updating the facility’s set of reference documents, to take account of the reactor outage, must be continued within the announced timeframe. ASNR will also be closely scrutinising the adaptation of the organisation and the personnel’s competence to manage new activities relating to decommissioning while maintaining the level of safety of the facility and controlling the schedules of the associated activities. Spent fuel testing laboratory The Spent Fuel Testing Laboratory (LECI) was built and commissioned in November 1959. It was declared a BNI on 8 January 1968 by the CEA. An extension was authorised in 2000. The LECI (BNI 50) constitutes an expert assessment aid for the nuclear licensees. Its role is to study the properties of materials used in the nuclear sector, whether irradiated or not. From the safety aspect, this facility must meet the same requirements as the nuclear installations of the “fuel cycle”, but the safety approach is proportional to the risks and drawbacks it presents. Further to the last periodic safety review, ASN issued the resolution of 30 November 2016 (amended on 26 June 2017) regulating the continued operation of the facility through technical prescriptions relating in particular to the improvement plan that CEA had undertaken to implement. Some of CEA’s commitments have not been fulfilled within the deadlines. In 2023, the examination of the provisions relating to fire led ASN to issue a compliance resolution to regulate performance of the works initially expected for the end of 2019, with a deadline of 31 December 2026. THE INSTALLATIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO REGULATE COMPRISE: ▸ basic nuclear installations regulated by the Orléans division: • the Saclay and Fontenay-aux-Roses sites of the CEA Paris-Saclay centre, • the Artificial Radionuclide Production Facility (UPRA) operated by CIS bio international in Saclay; ▸ small-scale nuclear activities in the medical field regulated by the Paris division: • 28 external beam radiotherapy departments, • 12 brachytherapy departments, • 44 in vivo nuclear medicine departments and 12 in vitro (medical biology) nuclear medicine departments, • 150 centres practising fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures; ▸ small-scale nuclear activities in the industrial, veterinary and research sectors under the oversight of the Paris division: • 5 industrial radiography companies using gamma radiography devices, • about 90 authorisations and 56 registrations relative to research activities; ▸ activities associated with the transport of radioactive substances; ▸ ASNR-approved laboratories and organisations: • 3 organisations approved for radiation protection controls. Chap.7 Chap 6 Chap.5 ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025 65
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