ASN Report 2020

Montrouge, 02 March 2021 The year 2020 was profoundly marked by the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection achieved remained satisfactory and that those responsible for nuclear activities were able to adapt and cope with the situation. In early 2021, the health crisis is still not over and prudence is required with regard to the lessons to be learned, in an uncertain and changing context. ASN considers that this situation raises systemic questions which could apply, in the same terms, in the event of a nuclear crisis. This notably concerns trust in scientific expertise and in the authorities by the population and the conditions determining the acceptability of the restrictive population protection measures. More generally, ASN considers that the first analyses of the problems encountered during this health crisis confirm the absolute need, which it has regularly underlined, to strengthen the culture of anticipation and precaution among all those concerned by nuclear matters. Proven adaptability by the stakeholders, but vigilance to be maintained In the context of an unprecedented crisis, the ability of all the stakeholders to adapt was a key point for nuclear safety and radiation protection. It proved to be satisfactory. On the one hand the licensees continued with the activities crucial to supplying the country with electricity, while maintaining a high level of safety in their installations. On the other, those in charge of nuclear activities, notably in the medical sector, demonstrated great reactivity and adapted their organisation to ensure that the health situation was managed and the provision of health care remained uninterrupted. However, the postponement of numerous activities in the spring of 2020, combined with new restrictions in the autumn, created a considerable amount of pressure, which will last well beyond 2020. The rescheduling of unit outages to take account of electricity production needs in the winter and the domino effect that this has for the coming years, is leading to operational constraints for the NPPs, strain on the management of unit outages and contractor mobilisation, and demands particular vigilance with regard to the regulatory requirements. In the medical field, long-term management of the health crisis is raising questions regarding patient radiation protection in some centres, owing to the lack of availability or the overwork of the medical professionals. In this context, ASN remains attentive to the steps taken to ensure the nuclear safety and radiation protection of the activities, whether material, organisational, or human. Finally, ASN is committed to learning all long-term lessons f rom the management of this crisis, on the one hand regarding its own oversight, in particular concerning the complementary nature of on-site and remote inspections, and on the other regarding the conditions for maintaining a collective approach internally, as this is a key factor in the quality and robustness of its decision-making process. … ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 3 EDITORIAL BY THE COMMISSION