transfer of part of its research and development equipment to the Atalante laboratories (BNI 148) at Marcoule. Lefca’s activities are currently limited to the characterisation and conditioning of liquid and solid wastes. An application to amend the Creation Authorisation Decree, in order to carry out nuclear material repackaging and storage activities and modify its perimeter, was submitted to the Minister at the end of 2024. ASNR’s review of this file in 2025 led to a request for additional information, including changes to the safety report and the identification of protection important components in relation to the new operations proposed. The licensee submitted its safety review concluding report in December 2023. It is currently being reviewed by ASNR and presents the prospect of continued operation of the facility. In 2025, ASNR considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection at the facility is satisfactory in terms of the“fire” and “pollution prevention and harmful effects control” issues raised during the inspection. Chicade laboratory – CEA centre Since 1993, the Chicade facility (BNI 156) has been conducting research and development work on low- and intermediate-level objects and waste, chiefly involving: • the destructive and non-destructive characterisation of radio- active objects, waste sample packages and irradiating objects; • the development and qualification of nuclear measurement systems; • the development and implementation of chemical and radiochemical analysis methods; • the expert assessment and inspection of waste packages packaged by the waste producers. In 2025, work continued on the application to amend the Creation Authorisation Decree (DAC) for the facility, with the aim of changing the perimeter of the facility to include the gravity drainage well and external storage areas, and, with regard to environmental protection, to take account of gaseous emissions. ASNR has given the go-ahead for consultations and the public inquiry, subject to updates to the file on certain points. ASNR considers that the level of safety and radiation protection is satisfactory for the inspected areas of chain reaction control and external hazards. In 2026, the licensee will have to carry out work to divert rainwater from the upstream catchment area in order to reinforce prevention measures against the risk of external flooding. The licensee will also have to complete the protection work to limit the impact of the MA building on neighbouring buildings (FA and ventilation) under seismic stress, as well as the work to repair the waterproofing of the roofs of the FA and MA buildings, for which delays have been announced, resulting in non-compliance with the technical specifications issued following the last review. Cedra storage facility – CEA centre Since 2006, the Cedra facility (BNI 164) has been used to store intermediate-level long-lived (ILW-LL) waste pending the creation of appropriate disposal routes. CEA forecasts that this facility will be filled to capacity by 2030. The studies concerning a project to double the storage capacity began in 2020. The Safety Options Dossier (DOS) relating to the first project to extend the facility (unit 3) in order to anticipate the saturation deadlines, received at the end of 2024, is currently being reviewed by ASNR. The conclusions of the expert assessment of the report presenting the conclusions of the periodic safety review of the facility, which is due in 2022, are expected in 2026. ASNR considers the level of safety and radiation protection at the facility to be satisfactory in the areas inspected, i.e. supervision of outside contractors, waste management and fire. As regards the supervision of outside contractors, which improved in 2025, the licensee will have to increase the monitoring of maintenance operations carried out on a recurring basis at the facility. Magenta storage warehouse CEA centre The Magenta facility (BNI 169), which replaces the MCMF currently being decommissioned, has been dedicated since 2011 to the storage of non-irradiated fissile material and the non-destructive characterisation of the nuclear materials received. In 2025, CEA received authorisation to extend the operating range of the facility, and in particular the type of material received. In December 2025, ASNR issued a favourable opinion on the request to modify the Magenta perimeter to include the Emergency Response Centre at the Cadarache site, which is currently under construction. ASNR has continued its examination of the review file submitted in 2021. The postponement of the commissioning of glove boxes within the facility, which had been planned since its creation, and the failure to carry out the associated operations concerning the replacement of seals on secondary containers containing plutonium-bearing material, remains a point requiring particular attention and was the subject of new discussions with CEA in 2025. ASNR will state its position on these elements in 2026, as part of the conclusion of the periodic safety review. ASNR considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection at the facility is satisfactory, particularly with regard to waste and safety management. Advanced effluent management and treatment facility – CEA centre The Advanced effluent management and treatment facility (Agate – BNI 171), commissioned in 2014 to replace BNI 37-B which is now shut down, uses an evaporation process to concentrate radioactive liquid effluents containing mainly beta- and gamma-emitting radionuclides. The application to amend the facility’s Creation Authorisation Decree in order to treat new types of radioactive effluent and extend the authorised outlets for the treatment of concentrates is currently being reviewed. This amendment to the Decree, authorising the treatment of new effluents, should enable CEA to increase the operating capacity of the Agate BNI. The examination of the report presenting the conclusions of the first periodic safety review of the facility continued in 2025. ASNR considers that the level of safety and radiation protection of the facility is satisfactory. However, the licensee will have to consolidate and improve the rigour of its operations, particularly when carrying out periodic inspections and tests. ASNR underlines that this facility plays a central role in the management of CEA effluents and as such constitutes a sensitive facility in CEA’s decommissioning and material and waste management strategy. Jules Horowitz Reactor project CEA centre The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR – BNI 172), under construction since 2009, is a pressurised-water research reactor designed to study the behaviour of materials under irradiation and of power Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 94 ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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