EDF has just put forward its first set of recommendations to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) commission for improvements to safety and management of its nuclear production fleet.

EDF's fleet of nuclear power stations adhere to principles of continuous improvement. Existing facilities, along with new ones, are therefore constantly benefiting from the feedback gathered from all of its plants and learning the lessons from accidents that happen all around the world.

Following Fukushima, as an operator and designer, EDF, as part of its continuous improvement process, has launched a primary action plan for the short, medium and long term. Furthermore, EDF wishes to see a rapid harmonisation of the specifications for these audits on a European level, on the basis of the text put forward by the association of Europe's major safety authorities.

The programme of measures recommended to the ASN includes a range of actions:

• Assessment of the technical and human resources currently in place for accident situations at the highest level.
• The creation of a national EDF rapid reaction task force to support the crisis programme, including additional electricity and water backup equipment, with dedicated transport and human resources, all of which can be mobilised within 24 to 48 hours, at site level. These measures will work together with the Group's crisis organisation, to be mobilised and ready for action immediately, both locally and nationally.
• An in-depth review of the design of power stations. This involves looking at the safety margins for facilities dealing with the events following earthquakes, floods, power failures or interruptions to cooling processes. These reviews, to take place between now and the end of 2011, will involve both reactors and spent fuel pools.

All of this assessment and safety margin review work will be carried out under the ASN's control, and will be incorporated into the French nuclear safety audits to be carried out by the ASN at the Prime Minister's request, in accordance with the completion of the stress tests demanded at a European level.

Tags: EDF Energy