24 Oct (NucNet): An International Atomic Energy Agency assessment of EDF's Flamanville-1 and Flamanville-2 in France identified a number of good practices at the station that will be shared with the nuclear industry globally, a statement said.
The IAEA said an Operational Safety Review Team (Osart), which completed its assessment on 23 October 2014, found that Flamanville had “a strong management system; a staff skills mapping tool to ensure effective management of staff competence; and a display screen in the main control room showing the status of plant safety operational limits and conditions on a continuous basis”.
Areas for improvement of operational safety include “better application of plant procedures; maintenance practices; and deeper analysis of root causes of operational events," the statement said.
The IAEA's Osart programme sends teams of experts to assess operation of nuclear power plants at the request of IAEA states. The review, requested by French nuclear regulator ASN, covered management, organisation and administration; training and qualification; operations; maintenance; technical support; operating experience; radiation protection; chemistry; emergency planning and preparedness, and severe accident management.
Flamanville-1 and -2 are pressurised water reactors of 1,330 megawatts MW each. They began commercial operation in 1985 and 1986, respectively. Flamanville-3, an Areva-design EPR under construction, was not included in the assessment.
