Since the January 1, 2025France has taken a decisive step in the management of nuclear safety and radiation protection by creating a single entity: theNuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR). This ambitious reform, the result of the merger between theNuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and theInstitute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN)marks a turning point in the way we approach nuclear security issues.
Why a new single authority?
The decision to group the skills of ASN and IRSN is part of a desire to simplify nuclear governance and increase its effectiveness. By centralizing expertise and decision-making functions, the government wishes to accelerate administrative processes, which are particularly crucial in the context of the relaunch of French nuclear power. Projects to build new reactors, such as the EPR2, require rapid and concerted decisions to respond to energy and climate challenges.
This transformation also aims to strengthen the international attractiveness of Franceby adopting an integrated model closer to that used in the United States or Japan. A single authority ensures better coordination of missions, while facilitating collaboration with foreign counterparts.
What will be the new missions of the ASNR?
The ASNR inherits the historical responsibilities of its founding entities, but its scope is expanded to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century. Among its key missions, we find:
- Supervision of civil nuclear activities : from the design of the installations to their dismantling.
- Research and innovation : the development of advanced technologies to better protect populations and the environment.
- Communication and pedagogy : an essential mission to inform the general public about the risks linked to nuclear power and about prevention measures.
- International coordination : to guarantee high safety standards and strengthen cooperation with other nuclear countries.
This new entity will also be responsible for adopting a more proactive approach to anticipate changes in energy and technological needs, while ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
The challenges of reform
Although this merger has been presented as a strategic step forward, it is not without criticism. Several players in the sector are raising fundamental questions:
- Scientific independence
By concentrating expertise and decisions within the same structure, some fear a loss of objectivity. Until now, the IRSN acted as an independent expert body, providing technical analyzes to the ASN, which drew its conclusions. This separation of powers guaranteed a certain transparency.
The combined budget of the two entities, estimated at 556 million euros in 2022will now have to be redistributed to cover all of the ASNR's missions. Concerns persist about the future financing of research programs, crucial to guaranteeing high-level safety.
- The attractiveness of scientific professions
The merger has caused uncertainty among IRSN employees, with some fearing a downgrade or loss of meaning in their functions. The departure of certain talents to the private sector is another major concern in a context where technical skills are already scarce.
The modernization of French nuclear power
Despite these challenges, the creation of the ASNR reflects a desire to modernize French nuclear governance to better respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow. On a global scale, this reform aims to position France as a leader in nuclear safety, while contributing to the energy transition..
The effectiveness of this new structure will be closely scrutinized in the years to come. If ASNR manages to overcome criticism and achieve its objectives, it could become a model for other countries seeking to optimize their nuclear safety management.
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