The oldest French nuclear reactors extended from 40 to 50 years

The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) paved the way Thursday for the continued life of the oldest reactors in France from 40 to 50 years, urging EDF to carry out work to improve their safety.

The nuclear gendarme published a decision, which was expected, on the 32 900 MW reactors, the oldest in the French fleet, mainly commissioned in the 1980s. 

ASN has set out in this text the conditions so that they can operate beyond their fourth "periodic review", which takes place every ten years, i.e. until the end of the 2020s or 2030s, depending on the date. commissioning.

"ASN considers that all the measures provided for by EDF and those it prescribes open the prospect of continued operation of these reactors for the ten years following their fourth periodic review," she said.

ASN prescribes "major safety improvements"

"ASN prescribes the implementation of the major safety improvements planned by EDF, as well as the additional measures that it considers necessary", she explains.

EDF will therefore have to carry out a series of tests and works to improve the safety of its reactors.

"A first objective is to reduce the consequences of accidents, and in particular serious accidents, with a meltdown of the reactor core", explained Julien Collet, deputy director general of ASN.

Improvements are in particular planned so that the radioactivity remains confined inside the enclosure in the event of an accident.

"The second major component relates to strengthening the attacks that can occur on these facilities," he continued.

The target is external (earthquake, flood, extreme heat ...) and internal (fire ...).

Finally, a last component concerns "the reinforcement at the level of the spent fuel storage pool", indicated Julien Collet.

Opponents demand the closure of old power plants

This passage marks a significant stage for French reactors.

They were originally authorized with no limit on their operating life, but EDF had initially envisaged a life of 40 years.

The plants concerned are the oldest: Bugey (Ain), Blayais (Gironde), Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), Cruas (Ardèche), Dampierre (Loiret), Gravelines (North), Saint-Laurent (Loir-et-Loire) Cher) and Tricastin (Drôme).

The decision announced Thursday concerns all the 900 MW reactors, which will also be the subject of individual recommendations.

The implementation of the planned improvements will now take years.

Nuclear opponents for their part are calling for the closure of old power plants.

"Nuclear reactors are entering an unknown aging phase," said Greenpeace.