Reference documents

Following on from the recommendations put forward by the ASN on 28th June 2012 as part of its additional safety assessments, EDF confirms its commitment to completing the work needed to increase the safety level at its nuclear facilities. This work on its nuclear plants is part of the Group’s overall investment programme for the period to 2015.

"We also invest in the training of our teams. One of the keys to nuclear safety is to constantly renew and develop the skills of our employees. As in 2011, EDF has planned to hire more than 2000 people this year, increasing its workforce in the nuclear and engineering sectors. The stakes are high for the Group", Henri Proglio, CEO of EDF group said.

This work, both on existing plants and plants currently under construction, is intended to increase robustness as well as to guarantee additional safety margins for the facilities to deal with:

• the risks associated with earthquakes and floods,
• the simultaneous loss of the cooling source and the electricity supply,
• the consequences of serious accidents,
  

EDF has already undertaken to implement an action plan, which will be rolled over a number of years in accordance with the ASN’s technical recommendations, and includes, for example:

• The introduction, by the end of 2012, of the rapid response nuclear task force (“Force d’Action Rapide du Nucléaire”, FARN), which will be capable of intervening at any nuclear reactor in France in an emergency. An initial base was set up in Civaux in the first half of 2012, and three other regional bases will be created in Dampierre, Paluel and Bugey. The aim is that by 2014, the FARN will be able to intervene at all the reactors on one EDF site simultaneously, regardless of the location in France.
• The development of local crisis centres to manage extreme events. These facilities will be there to welcome whole teams of operators and experts over several days, who will work in partnership with EDF at national level as well as with the public authorities.
• The tender process for the production of emergency diesel generators. 58 generators will be installed throughout the reactor fleet by 2018. The principle is to have additional emergency resources within 24 hours, in the event of an accident and whilst waiting for the arrival of the FARN.