ASN Report 2017

38 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 Nuclear research or miscellaneous industrial facilities are operated by CEA or other research organisations (for example the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL), the ITER international organisation and the national large heavy ions accelerator - Ganil) or by industrial firms (for instance CIS bio international, Synergy Health and Ionisos, which operate facilities producing radiopharmaceuticals, or industrial irradiators). The safety principles applicable to these facilities are similar to those applied to power reactors and nuclear fuel cycle facilities, while taking account of their specificities with regard to risks and detrimental effects. Significant events and assessment CEA ASN considers that the level of safety in the facilities operated by CEA is on the whole satisfactory, in particular the operation of its experimental reactors. Construction work on the Jules Horowitz Reactor (RJH) is continuing. 2017 was marked by the end of the civil engineering work. CEA asked for a four- year extension to the commissioning date for its facility owing to a series of delays in the construction work. ASNwill examine this application for postponement of commissioning to 2023. ASN inspected the start-up tests, the aim of which is to check correct operation of the equipment and of the Cabri reactor, more particularly tests on the equipment of the new pressurised water loop. At the beginning of 2018, it granted the authorisation necessary for performance of the first experimental test. The Éole-Minerve reactors and the Fissile Materials Central Warehouse (MCMF) were finally shut down at the end of 2017. The decommissioning files should be submitted in July  2018 and November  2018 respectively. Other licensees ASN supervised the new strategy for gradual commissioning of ITER up until 2035. ILL continued to install the cooling backup systems and carried out reinforcement work on the High-Flux Reactor (RHF). This work is primarily in response to the undertakings made as a result of the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident. ASN considers that the level of safety of the RHF is satisfactory. It did however observe several deviations from the regulations in terms of safety management. ASN therefore expects ILL to reinforce its organisation, more specifically to improve the management of equipment modifications, as well as the management of periodic checks and tests. Delays were observed in the implementation of a number of technical requirements for the operation of Ganil. ASN is closely attentive to the resources devoted by Ganil to nuclear safety, so that the requirements are met rigorously and the projects are run efficiently. With regard to CIS bio international, ASN notes that efforts have been made, in particular the reinforcement and modification of its organisation and its operating processes, making safety management of the UPRA facility more efficient. However, the nature of the significant events which have occurred, the causes of which are almost always organisational and human failures, reflects an unsatisfactory operational safety situation. ASN also observes that, in the light of the delays that have built up in recent years and despite the efforts made since the end of 2016, the licensee has difficulty in complying with the requirements resulting from the previous periodic safety review, with ASN therefore initiating a formal notice to comply procedure at the beginning of 2018. To conclude, ASN expects to see a lasting turnaround in operating rigour and projects management at CIS bio international. Outlook Examination of the 26 periodic safety review conclusion reports submitted in 2017, including 16 for CEA, and ASN’s future position statements on the continued operation of the facilities concerned (research reactors, laboratories, plants, waste and decommissioning) are particular challenges for the coming years. CEA ASN will remain vigilant to ensuring compliance with the commitments made by CEA, both for its facilities in service and those being decommissioned. 14 Nuclear research and miscellaneous industrial facilities Significant events and outlook