ASNR hosts delegation from the Dutch Nuclear Safety Authority (ANVS)

A delegation from ASNR, led by Commissioner Stéphanie Guénot Bresson, held talks on 10 April 2026 in Montrouge with a delegation from the Dutch Nuclear Safety Authority (ANVS) led by its Chair, Annemiek van Bolhuis.

This meeting is the third to take place since the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two authorities in 2023. Discussions focused on a number of topics of mutual interest and key issues, such as the ongoing licensing process for Cigéo, the EPR2 programme, SMR projects, the use of nuclear power in civil marine propulsion, and the latest developments in the nuclear policies of both countries. 
In particular, ANVS expressed its wish to benefit from ASNR’s experience regarding the assessment and licensing processes for the Cigéo waste storage project and SMR projects, notably the Thorizon molten salt reactor project, for which it was agreed to continue the discussions initiated as part of the reactor’s preparatory review.
With regard to the use of nuclear power for civilian marine propulsion, ASNR and ANVS have, in particular, emphasised the importance of considering the maturity of the technologies and the need to be involved in the work carried out by the International Maritime Organisation in this field.
During lunch, Pierre-Marie Abadie, President of ASNR, and Olivier Gupta, Director General of ASNR, had the opportunity to discuss the role of nuclear power in energy policy and the growing interest shown by many countries in SMRs, and to confirm the challenges associated with the use of nuclear power for the propulsion of merchant ships.

From left to right: Julien Malleville (ASNR), Trix van Hoof (ANVS), Sylvain Petit (ASNR), Marco Brugmans (ANVS), Annemiek van Bolhuis (ANVS), Pierre-Marie Abadie (ASNR), Luc Chanial (ASNR), Stéphanie Guénot Bresson (ASNR), Philippe Dupuy (ASNR), Sophie Beauquier (ASNR), Rick Bulk (ANVS).