Dear AFCEN members and experts,

The nuclear industry is being organised, structured, and strengthened to meet several challenges: keeping the fleet in operation, by extending the service life of units; revitalising nuclear energy, with the construction of six EPR2 reactors in France and two EPR reactors at Sizewell in the United Kingdom; and the emergence of small reactors projects featuring various technologies in Europe and around the world.

AFCEN, attentive to all its stakeholders, is committed to the EPR2 project, to ensure the successful stabilisation of its technical standard.

Thanks to your commitment and the quality of your work, AFCEN remains at the service of the nuclear industry by enhancing its performance through the quality of its publications.

As in previous years, the activities in 2024 were sustained: a new edition of the RCC-C (fuel) and RCC-M (PWR mechanics) codes, the French edition of the RCC-F code, new PTAN technical publications, work on the recognition of the RCC-M code by the French safety authority, formalized this year by a letter from the Nuclear Safety Authority approving the principles of the RCC-M code recognition.

For 2025, we will pursue to implement our strategic plan focusing on three key priorities identified: editorial policy, interaction with the major reactor projects, operators, and safety authorities, and finally, support for the effective proficiency of the codes for the nuclear industry. We will continue to strengthen our resources by welcoming the best experts working in the nuclear industry as members.

I would like to thank all our members and experts for their commitment to the association and their ability to uphold AFCEN's values of Collaboration, Expertise and Responsibility.

On behalf of AFCEN, I wish you all the best for 2025 and look forward to seeing you at the next AFCEN Congress, which will be held on 24 and 25 June 2025 in Paris.

Laurent THIEFFRY

AFCEN Chairman