Île‑de‑France Review of the file for the facility’s second periodic safety review, which CEA submitted in December 2023, continued in 2025. In 2025, CEA launched an overall review of the future of the facility, including the transfer of certain research and development activities to the most recent building. If implemented, this project will lead to major changes in the facility’s safety issues, particularly with regard to the risk of fire. In this new context, ASNR expects CEA to justify prioritising the work needed to bring the facility back into compliance. In addition, the project to reprocess, repackage and dispose of irradiated waste from the LECI is currently being redefined and resized to take account of changes at the facility. Lastly, the inspections carried out during 2025 were deemed satisfactory, although improvements are expected in the performance of periodic inspections and tests and the monitoring of maintenance operations. Poséidon irradiator Authorised in 1972, the Poséidon facility (BNI 77) is an irradiator comprising a storage pool for cobalt-60 sources, partially surmounted by an irradiation bunker. The BNI moreover includes another bunkered irradiator baptised Pagure, and the Vulcain accelerator. This facility is used for studies and qualification services for the equipment installed in the nuclear reactors, notably thanks to an immersible chamber, as well as for the radiosterilisation of medical products. The main risk in the facility is of personnel exposure to ionising radiation due to the presence of very high-activity sealed radioactive sources. ASN has regulated the continued operation of the facility following its first periodic safety review via its resolution of 22 November 2019. The major areas for improvement are in particular the resistance of the building to seismic and climatic hazards (snow and wind in particular), and the monitoring of ageing of the Poséidon storage pool. In 2024, further to its examination of the periodic safety review concluding report submitted by CEA at the end of 2021, ASN considered that it had no objection to the continued operation of BNI 77. Attention must nevertheless be paid to monitoring the ageing of the pool. In 2025, ASNR authorised the extension of the period of use of sealed cobalt-60 sources in the Poséidon irradiator. ASNR considers that the facility’s level of nuclear safety is satisfactory. The inspections showed that the Poséidon pool is being properly monitored and maintained. However, source management remains a point requiring particular attention, following two cases of tritium contamination of the facility’s pool in 2021 and 2024 during the supply of new cobalt-60 sources. In 2025, ASNR examined the operational experience feedback received by CEA and the measures put in place to manage potentially contaminated water from tests on transport packaging, which appeared to be satisfactory. Finally, at the end of 2024, CEA submitted a request to modify the perimeter of BNI 77, in order to include the new emergency management premises, operational since 1 January 2025. In December 2025, ASNR issued a favourable opinion on this modification, which does not involve any change in the operation of BNI 77. 1. Part of the inventory of the radionuclides of a nuclear facility that groups the radionuclides that could be dispersed in the facility in the event of an incident or accident, or even, for a fraction of them, be released into the environment. 2. This project involves a process intended to retrieve and package drums containing a mix of waste and fuel fragments which are currently stored in pits in the facility. The retrieval of these drums requires specific equipment, given the uncertainties concerning their integrity. SOLID WASTE AND LIQUID EFFLUENT TREATMENT FACILITIES CEA operates various types of facilities: laboratories associated with “fuel cycle” research as well as research reactors. CEA also carries out numerous decommissioning operations. Consequently, it produces diverse types of waste. CEA has specific reprocessing, packaging and storage facilities for the management of this waste. Solid radioactive waste management zone The Solid Radioactive Waste Management Zone (ZGDS – BNI 72) was authorised by the Decree of 14 June 1971. Operated by CEA, this facility reprocesses, packages and stores the high-, intermediate- and low-level waste from the Saclay centre facilities. It also stores legacy materials and waste (spent fuels, sealed radioactive sources, scintillating liquids, ion exchange resins, technological waste, etc.) pending removal. In view of the “dispersible inventory(1)” currently present in the facility, BNI 72 is one of the priorities of CEA’s decommissioning strategy which has been examined by ASN, who stated its position on these priorities in May 2019 (see chapter 12 of the full ASNR Report). BNI 72 has been definitively shut down since 31 December 2022. Nevertheless, certain types of waste can be accepted by the facility until 2025. After analysing the review report for BNI 72 submitted at the end of 2017 and assessed jointly with the decommissioning file, in 2022 ASN regulated the conditions of continued operation of the facility. In addition, Decree 2022-1107 of 2 August 2022 requiring CEA to proceed with the decommissioning of BNI 72 came into force on 26 July 2023, the date on which ASN approved the revision of the general operating rules. ASNR notes positively the removal of the last isotope generator and the completion of the repackaging of the ion exchange resins in 2025. CEA plans to resume work in 2026 on the dismantling of fuel rods stored in a container known as the “RCC”, which has been shut down since 2024 following the loss of integrity of fuel pellets during handling, with an adaptation of the procedures for carrying out certain operations. ASNR is also keeping a close eye on the progress of the “Removal of fuel bins” project (EPOC(2)), given the difficulties encountered in recent years by CEA in its management. In 2025, the licensee continued investigations aimed at improving knowledge of the condition of the drums and wells concerned. ASNR will also ensure that CEA takes into account the operational experience feedback from the malfunction encountered in 2025 on Chateau A, used to transport containers. The EPOC project plans to use similar equipment. ASNR considers that the overall level of safety of the installation is satisfactory. However, despite the measures taken to strengthen the supervision of outside contractors, vigilance is still required with regard to routine operations. In addition, CEA must ensure that waste storage deadlines are met at the facility. 66 ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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