Ventilation in Nuclear Defense
By Bastien Goudeman, Chief Operating Officer, Axima Nucléaire
When you talk about your job, what's the first thing people picture?
When I talk about my job with friends, they picture Homer Simpson touching green radioactive stuff that turns into—I don't know what. The reality is that I work in nuclear ventilation, on projects involving modifications or new installations for ventilation, thermal fluids, and process fluids. When people hear “nuclear,” they immediately think of nuclear power plants—and that is indeed part of what we do. There’s also a whole research component, the fuel cycle, decommissioning, and the nuclear aspects typically associated with submarines.
Can you tell us about your work on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier?
Known throughout the world, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is an essential component of France’s nuclear deterrent. Axima Nucléaire historically participated in the design and construction of the nuclear ventilation system for the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. Today, we are heavily involved in facilities that house this equipment.
Typically, when a submarine or an aircraft carrier arrives, maintenance work must be performed, including on the nuclear power plant. This requires facilities that meet very high safety standards, and we are involved in the construction of these facilities.
What are the day-to-day challenges you face in your work?
On a daily basis, I rely on my teams’ professional expertise to address critical challenges, with one primary goal: controlling contamination.
Our entities help ensure the safety of nuclear operations in the broadest sense in France. We help modernize French nuclear facilities, some of which date back to the 1960s.
The projects we handle—whether civilian or military—are high-stakes endeavors. We must get it right the first time, as mistakes have significant consequences. A ventilation system that operates poorly for a certain period of time can potentially contaminate areas that should remain uncontaminated.
What was your career path before becoming chief operating officer?
Before becoming Chief Operating Officer for nuclear operations at Equans, I was a project manager on the DUS (Diesel d'Ultime Secours) project, a flagship project for EDF that required a high level of organizational skill. The DUS project was a post-Fukushima initiative. After the earthquake, there was no emergency power supply capable of handling the worst-case scenarios. EDF’s idea was to have a “hard core”—a set of equipment that would remain powered even in the event of a major crisis. The goal was not to keep a power plant operational, but to contain the material and limit the impact of the accident to the absolute minimum. The DUS building, equipped with a generator, is designed to remain operational following an earthquake, a flood, an explosion in the vicinity of the plant, etc.
How do you balance your passion for music with your career?
When I compare my work to that of a conductor, it doesn't come out of nowhere. In fact, I’m not just a nuclear professional—I’m also a trumpet player with a passion for music, an art form based on harmony. I play a lot of music, and it really helps me disconnect from anything work-related that might be on my mind.
Our jobs are demanding and interesting, but music allows me to focus on something else. I become a pure performer again. In music, you adapt to others—to people of different skill levels and styles. The goal is to bring everything into harmony, just like in a project where everyone plays their part to achieve an overall result.
