The French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority has decided that EDF can operate its thirteen hundred megawatts capacity nuclear reactors beyond their original 40-year lifespan provided that necessary upgrades are carried out.
EDF operates four pressurized water reactor designs, known as the nine hundred megawatts, the thirteen hundred megawatt, the fourteen hundred and fifty megawatt N4 and the sixteen hundred and fifty megawatt EPR. Its thirty-two operating nine hundred megawatt reactors came into commercial operation between 1977 and 1988, while its twenty thirteen hundred megawatt units started up between 1985 and 1993. The four N4 reactors were connected to the grid between 1984 and 1991. The Flamanville Unit 3 EPR was connected to the grid in December last year.
In France, the authorization to construct a nuclear facility is issued by the government, after consulting the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR). This authorization is issued without a time limit. A thorough review of the facility, called a “periodic review”, is carried out every ten years to assess the conditions for the continued operation of the facility for the next ten years.
The ASNR has now determined that the thirteen hundred megawatt reactors can continue operating beyond their fourth periodic review, conducted after 40 years of operation.
ASNR noted the fourth periodic safety review of the thirteen hundred megawatt reactors is “of particular importance since, when certain reactor equipment was designed, an assumption of 40 years of operation was adopted. Continuation beyond this period requires an update of the design studies or replacement of equipment”.
ASNR continued, “The ASNR considers that all the provisions provided for by EDF and those it prescribes open up the prospect of continued operation of these reactors for the ten years following their fourth periodic review.”
The provisions planned by EDF as part of the generic phase of the fourth periodic review of the thirteen hundred megawatt were the subject of a national consultation from the 18th of January to the 30th of September 2024. The ASNR has also consulted the public, via its website, on its draft decision between the 16th of May and 15th of June 2025
In its decision, the ASNR requires the implementation of the major safety improvements planned by EDF, as well as the additional provisions it considers necessary to achieve the objectives of the review.
ASNR noted, “This decision closes the so-called generic phase of the review, which concerns the studies and modifications of the facilities common to all thirteen hundred megawatt reactors, which are designed on a similar model. It is accompanied by a letter formulating additional requests on subjects presenting lesser stakes.”
The regulator said the required improvements and measures will be applied to each reactor individually during their fourth periodic safety reviews, scheduled to run until 2040. These reviews will take the specifics of each facility into account, it said. The actions planned by EDF for each reactor will be subject to a public inquiry.
ASNR requires EDF to report annually on the actions implemented to meet the ASNR requirements and their deadlines. Annual reports are also required on the industrial capacity of both EDF and its outside contractors to complete the modifications of the facilities within the set timeframes. ASNR requires that this information be made public.
EDF expects to spend seven billion dollars on extending the life of their fleet of reactors.
In February of 2021, ASNR set the conditions for the continued operation of EDF’s nine hundred megawatt reactors beyond 40 years. In August 2023, Unit 1 of the Tricastin nuclear power plant in southern France became the first French nuclear power reactor licensed to operate beyond forty years.