Les déchets radioactifs - Comparaison européenne
En France, 77 % de l’électricité est produite à partir de centrales nucléaires. La France possède 13 % des réacteurs nucléaires mondiaux en fonctionnement et produit 18 % de l’électricité d’origine nucléaire. Avec un peu moins de 1,5 million de m3 de déchets radioactifs présents sur le territoire, elle détenait un cinquième (19 %) des déchets nucléaires mondiaux en 2013.
In France, 77% of electricity is generated from nuclear power plants. France operates 13% of the world's nuclear reactors and produces 18% of nuclear-generated electricity. With just under 1.5 million m³ of radioactive waste on its territory, it held one-fifth (19%) of the world's nuclear waste in 2013.
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- French production worldwideHigh-activity waste• France accounts for 18% of the world's high-activity waste (3,208 m³ in conditioned equivalent form in 2013). 1.8% of this waste originates from foreign countries and is awaiting shipment. These wastes stem from activities related to the nuclear power industry, research, and national defense. They consist primarily of non-recoverable substances from spent fuel reprocessing. Most of this waste is incorporated into glass and then conditioned in stainless steel drums.Long-lived low and medium activity waste• France generates 30% of long-lived low and medium activity waste (approximately 135,000 m³ in conditioned equivalent form in 2013). These wastes originate mainly from spent fuel reprocessing and maintenance and operational activities at reprocessing plants. This relatively high share should be moderated, as this category includes waste from foreign countries awaiting shipment (2.7% of medium-activity long-lived waste).Short-lived low and medium activity wasteFrance contributes 13% of the world's short-lived low and medium activity waste (approximately 878,000 m³ in conditioned equivalent form in 2013). This waste stems primarily from the operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of basic nuclear installations (INB).Very low activity waste• Finally, France's contribution to very low activity waste is significant (81%, approximately 436,000 m³ in conditioned equivalent form in 2013). However, this type of waste includes material from the operation (rubble, consumables, protective clothing) and maintenance and decommissioning of basic nuclear installations. Furthermore, France, unlike many other countries, does not apply a 'clearance level' for this type of waste, which explains the large share of such waste attributed to France. Indeed, other countries route this type of waste into conventional (non-nuclear) treatment pathways once waste activity falls below a given threshold.
Further reading
- Démantèlement et gestion des déchets radioactifsnotre-environnement.gouv.fr
La politique française concernant les matières et des déchets radioactifs vise à assurer leur gestion durable, dans le respect de la protection de la santé des personnes, de la sûreté et de l’environnement.
