Lessons learned from the Fukushima accident have been enshrined in a newly updated French law governing safety and security regulations for nuclear installations. Meanwhile, the country's president has assured workers at the country's oldest operating nuclear plant of his support for its continued operation.
EDF has reported two fires in the reactor building of Penly 2, which shut down automatically on detection of smoke in the reactor building.
Following an 18-month review, the French nuclear safety regulator has given its preliminary approval of the safety options for the Atmea1 reactor design. The decision marks an important step to demonstrate the licensability of the 'mid sized' pressurized water reactor.
Investing in new nuclear generating capacity or any other form of energy would be too expensive and come online too late, France's state audit office has concluded. Extending the operating lives of its existing nuclear power reactors would be its best option.
Industrial design work is set to begin for a deep geological repository for France's high- and intermediate-level radioactive waste following the signing of a contract between French radioactive waste agency Andra and a joint venture of two engineering companies.