PARIS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) on Wednesday said it has strengthened security in Belleville-sur-Loire nuclear power plant in Cher, central France, for poor safety systems.
ASN argued, in a statement, that its decision is due to "the deterioration in the level of safety it has observed since 2016 in this site and the absence of any notable improvements on the part of EDF to date."
The French nuclear authority added it reported in 2016 a significant increase in the number of events related to reactor monitoring and, in particular, "a degradation in the quality of the responses provided to it, as well as insufficient operator's reaction."
An inspection conducted last April showed deficiencies in implementation by the operator "for the supervision and maintenance of its facilities," according to the statement.
A similar operation is planned in 2018 to evaluate the "specific" measures taken to ensure the nuclear site's safety.
EDF, France's leading company which operates the nuclear facility, said it has already presenting "a rigorous plan to reinforce the safety culture in the plant," France info radio reported.
