Concerning the subject of safety, what are the main aims of the EPR project?
Even though the safety of the nuclear reactors operating now in France is considered to be satisfactory, the EPR project (European Pressurised Water Reactor) is aimed at achieving even greater safety. The design of the EPR reactor must make it possible to: – reduce the number of incidents, – reduce the risk of core meltdown, – eliminate core meltdown situations that can lead to premature and highly radioactive discharge, – manage other core meltdown situations so that they only require very limited protection measures for the population in terms of extent and duration. Finally, based on the experience acquired from the reactors already in operation, the EPR project envisages a significant improvement in protection against radiation for the working personnel.
