Cattenom found safe

(CS) French nuclear power plant Cattenom received satisfactory results in an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review, though some suggestions for improvement were made.

The Operational Safety Review (OSART) was commissioned by the French government earlier this year and IAEA experts thoroughly examined the plant from November 14 to December 1.

The team was made up of experts from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the IAEA.

The Cattenom plant was the first in Europe to voluntarily undertake a severe accident management review as part of the OSART, which also covers management, organisation and administration, training and qualification, operations, maintenance, technical support, operating experience, radiation protection, chemistry, and emergency planning and preparedness.

On the whole the team was satisfied with procedures at Cattenom, identifying good plant practices. Several measures used at the site will be forwarded for consideration within the nuclear industry. Highlighted especially were several security measures, accident support and telecommunications.

A few suggestions were made in regards to information management, organisation of training, control of the plant surveillance test programme and the effectiveness of the plant’s Root Cause Analysis process.

The management of the nuclear power plant has requested a follow-up mission in 18 months' time. In the meantime it intends to address the commission's suggestions and areas of improvement.

A final report on Cattenom will be issued by the IAEA to the French government in around three months, compiling information from the expert review, as well as comments from Cattenom's management and the French nuclear authority ASN.