The Autorité de sûreté nucléaire et de radioprotection (Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority, ASNR) is a French independent administrative authority whose mission is the control of nuclear safety and radiological protection in France. It was created January 1, 2025, via the contested merger of the
Autorité de sûreté nucléaire
The ''Autorité de sûreté nucléaire'' (, ASN) is an independent French administrative authority set up by law 2006-686 of 13 June 2006 concerning nuclear transparency and security. It has replaced the General Direction for Nuclear Safety and ...
(Nuclear Safety Authority, ASN) and the
Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire The French ''Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire'' (IRSN) ("Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute") located in Fontenay-aux-Roses is a public official establishment with an industrial and commercial aspect (EPIC) created by ...
(Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, IRSN). Pierre-Marie Abadie was the first president.
History
The merger of the ASN and the IRSN was announced in February 2023 in a context of
nuclear renaissance
Since about 2001 the term nuclear renaissance has been used to refer to a possible nuclear power industry revival, driven by rising fossil fuel prices and new concerns about meeting greenhouse gas emission limits.
The term emerged in a cont ...
in France and was the subject of strong opposition, marked notably by the opposition of three previous presidents of the
Office parlementaire d'évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques (Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices) and employees of IRSN, a vote of the National Assembly sanctifying the "dual organization" between ASN and IRSN, and an unfavorable opinion of the Social and Economics Committee of IRSN in December 2024.
The law creating the ASNR was adopted May 20, 2024 and entered into effect January 1, 2025. Pierre-Marie Abadie, president of ASN in November and December 2024, was selected as the first president for a duration of six years.
Missions
The ASNR assures the surveillance and verification of civil nuclear activities in France. It also carries out activities pertaining to research, expert guidance, training, and public information in the areas of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
Governance
The ASNR is directed by a board of five commissioners.
The duration of service is fixed by law at six years, and members cannot serve a second term. The commissioners are required to be impartial and cannot be instructed by the government or any other person or institution. Commissioners serve full-time and cannot be dismissed. Three, including the president of ASNR, are appointed by the president of France, one by the president of the National Assembly, and one by the president of the Senate.
Presidency
* Pierre-Marie Abadie (since January 1, 2025)
Notes and references
See also
Documents
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Related Articles
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Nuclear power in France
Since the mid-1980s, the largest source of Electricity sector in France, electricity in France has been nuclear power, with a generation of 379.5 terawatt-hour, TWh in 2019 and a total electricity production of . In 2018, the nuclear share was ...
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US equivalent agency)
External links
ASNR (English site)French Nuclear Power Programby the
World Nuclear Association
World Nuclear Association is the international organization that promotes nuclear power and supports the companies that comprise the global nuclear industry. Its members come from all parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining ...
{{Portal, Nuclear Technology
Nuclear power in France
Nuclear history of France