The prospects for nuclear safety

The 11 March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, after a violent earthquake followed by a tsunami, proves that, despite the precautions actually taken, an accident can never be left out of consideration, whence key questions ranging beyond the specific characteristics of the Fukushima reactors. According to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), drawing all the lessons from this catastrophe might take up to ten years, but is necessary for improving nuclear safety around the world. The ASN will be on watch, as it has been for other decisive factors that determine nuclear security, namely: the ageing of installations, the requirements to be applied to new reactors, research projects in the nuclear industry for developing a 'fourth generation' of reactors, the coherency of the fuel cycle, the management of nuclear wastes and the dismantling of installations. In this context and regardless of the energy options retained, the ASN recalls that nuclear power must be safe. The accountability and independence of control authorities are of primordial importance. (author)