WENRA said that the goals are in complete alignment with those set by the French nuclear safety authority ASN for reactors such as the EPR reactor.
The safety goals for new reactors are based on lessons learned from the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents in 1979 and 1986.
Compared with reactors currently in operation, the goals include in reduction of the risk of an accident with core meltdown, reduction of radioactive releases to the environment in the event of a core meltdown, and resistance to aircraft crashes, a goal that was reinforced following the events of September 11, 2001.
The design of the EPR reactor meets these criteria.
Meanwhile, ASN has stressed the need for ‘top-down alignment’ of nuclear safety and radiation protection requirements worldwide, indicating that the nuclear safety authority will not allow such kind reactors which do not meet these safety goals.
