[en] In this Power Point presentation, the author comments the main trends which can be noticed in the public opinion regarding the scientific and technological development, and more particularly nuclear energy: suspicion, refusal of risk and emergence of 'precaution' principles, demand for direct democracy to counter the speeches of experts and deciders. It comments the evolution of the nuclear debate themes: elements which favour a positive perception in France, World energy and climate perspectives, new angles of attack by the anti-nuclear movement before Fukushima (problems of security, radioactive pollution, Chernobyl) and after Fukushima (proliferation risks, terrorism, the issue of wastes and dismantling). The author comments the results of polls in different countries, outlines the main arguments of the nuclear sector after Fukushima. He finally outlines the difficulties in communicating about nuclear energy

[en] This article briefly presents ASTRID (the Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration) which is to be built in Marcoule and be exploited from the beginning of the 2020's. It is a fourth generation fast breeder reactor which will produce its own fuel. With such a reactor, world uranium reserves can be assessed not in tens of years but in thousands of years, about 5.000. The author briefly recalls the French experience in fast breeder reactors (Phenix and Superphenix)

[en] This document outlines that nuclear energy is a precious energy insurance for France, that nuclear energy presents critical economic advantages but also environmental advantages with respect to fossil energy, that nuclear energy keeps on developing at the international level. These aspects are highlighted by different remarks concerning population growth and energy demand growth, the fact that France controls its uranium supplies, the competitiveness of nuclear energy, the importance of the French nuclear industry in terms of jobs and know-how, the role of nuclear energy in the struggle against greenhouse effect, the safety of nuclear energy, and the drawbacks of phasing out nuclear for Germany and Japan

[en] This article proposes an overview of the possible resources of nuclear fuel in the future. The author notably addresses the use of thorium as a future fuel (it is abundant but has a low solubility), the exploitation of uranium present in sea water (the quantity is huge but the extraction process is complex and costly), the use of uranium 238 as fuel for fast neutron reactors (99 per cent of the mass of natural uranium is made of this isotope)

[en] After having recalled the main objectives of the French policy on energy transition (energy efficiency, energy saving, development of renewable energies) and evoked the controversy about the decrease of the nuclear share in the French energy mix, the author recalls the context of development of nuclear energy in France which aimed to ensure an independent electricity supply. Then, the author outlines the benefits of this independence in terms of economy, industrial development and protection of the environment. He discusses the perspectives and challenges of nuclear energy and industry in France with respect to energy transition, to the possibility of life extension for the French nuclear fleet, to the improvement of safety after the complementary safety assessments performed after Fukushima, to the EPR design and to the development of new generations (III and IV) of nuclear reactors, and to new applications of nuclear energy (desalination, transports, district heating). In a last part, the author discusses the perspective of development of nuclear energy in the world

[en] While addressing societal as well as ethical aspects, the author proposes a presentation of the different management modes which are applied to the different categories of nuclear wastes. He describes the strategy adopted in France with the deep storage, and discusses its safety by assessing its impact on health and on the environment in time. In the first chapter, the author presents the different types of nuclear wastes, their origin, and the related problem of exposure to radioactivity for the most dangerous ones. In the second chapter, he presents the French sector of nuclear waste management, outlines the role of the ANDRA, and the acknowledged know-how and expertise. The third chapter describes the different management modes for the five different waste categories. The author recalls and outlines the legal background, the strategic choices and the importance of the underground laboratory for the storage of high-level wastes. He discusses the challenges, safety approaches and cost issues associated with the geologic storage. He discusses the future of such storage, its possible evolutions and radioactive impact. He discusses issues related to dysfunctions, failures, altered scenarios. He finally gives its opinion on the current debate about radioactive nuclear wastes

[en] The author proposes a commented overview of the major characteristics of the Cigeo project in terms of safety, reversibility and economic impact. He first outlines the global consensus expressed by the French Parliament on this deep geological storage option. After having noticed that Cigeo actually concerns a small share of the whole volume of nuclear wastes produced in France and only some specific wastes (high and medium level and long life), the author evokes the harsh controversy about this project and briefly comments the reasons of the Senate approval. Then, he briefly describes the storage principle, how the sustainability of the storage seems to be ensured, the limited impact of waste packaging degradation, the fact that the storage does not present any risk of violent event and is out of range of climate effects and natural hazards. He also notices that other countries have also decided to choose this storage option, and then states that future generations will not be in charge of anything regarding this storage. He finally briefly addresses the economic impact of the project in terms of investment, annual expenses and jobs.

[en] Illustrated by maps, data graphs and tables, this article proposes answers to ten questions related to the situation and to the perspectives of evolution for the Fukushima power plant and its region. Is there any progress in the accident analysis and understanding? What about safety arrangements implemented in France in the light of lessons learned from the accident? What about the situation on the plant site? Is the site still releasing radioactivity towards the outside, the region and the ocean (atmospheric releases, contaminated liquid releases, sea water contamination, storage and processing of huge quantities of water)? What about working conditions and the situation of personnel working on the site? How is the dismantling of equipment prepared and started? What about decontamination works in the territories, i.e. evacuation zone and beyond (existence of different decontamination areas, performed and started decontamination works, residue storage site, and implemented decontamination methods)? What about the coming back of populations to their evacuated dwellings (on a short, medium or long term)? What are the last results of studies of the health impact of the accident in the present period and on a longer term? What about the energy situation in Japan and will the electronuclear program be launched again on a large scale (possible restart of some reactors in 2014, dramatic consequences for the Japanese economy)?

[en] This document gathers several contributions and reports which respectively presents the work themes, activities and recommendations of Work Group 3 within the frame of the Aarhus Convention and in the particular field of access to information and public participation; recalls the Aarhus Convention's history and discusses recommendations related to public information and participation before and after decisions; presents the activities, observations and recommendations of Work Group 2 within the Aarhus Convention and more particularly regarding the modalities of public participation to the decision process on environmental issues; reports an event which occurred in the Penly nuclear power station in April 2012 and actions performed by the ASN after this event; presents a project of long-term management of all radioactive wastes produced in France and the objectives of the public debate the ANDRA wants to organise about this project; reports meetings with managers of the Russian nuclear sector and visits of Russian nuclear sites by a delegation of the HCTISN; presents the main axis of a plan of management of the risk related to radon in France, its 8 main measures, its governance, and the progress of some actions. These contributions are respectively entitled: 'Context and objectives of Work Group 3-Access to expertise and competence building' (Demet and Rollinger), 'Recommendations to improve public information and participation to decision processes by linking local and national levels' (Monique Sene), 'Public participation to the decision process in the nuclear sector' (Sophia Majnoni d'Intignano and Henri Legrand), 'Withdrawal of the reactor after a failure of the 2 RCP 051 PO primary motor-pump group which entailed an AAR' (Pascal Quentin), 'The Cigeo Project: preparation to public debate', 'Mission report: Visit of a HCTISN delegation in Russia from 1 to 6 April 2012', 'Action plan 2011-2015 for the management of risk related to radon (Jean-Luc Godet)