A current draft law envisages the construction of eight more nuclear power plants in addition to the six approved plants, which have previously been discussed as an “option” by the government, Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told the newspaper “Tribune Dimanche” on Sunday.
In total, the construction of 14 reactors is under discussion. France is relying heavily on nuclear energy to replace coal-fired power plants and reduce CO2 emissions. It wants to reduce the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption from currently more than 60 percent to 40 percent in 2035.
According to the Energy Minister, this goal requires the construction of additional power plants with an output of 13 gigawatts from 2026. This corresponds to “the output of eight” EPR reactors, explained Pannier-Runacher and argued: “The historic nuclear fleet will not last forever.”
Model aims to revive nuclear power
The EPR reactor model developed by France was intended to revive nuclear power following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and offer more power with greater safety. Three reactors are in operation, one in Finland and two in China. However, there were not only problems with the construction in Finland – there are also delays and cost explosions in EPR projects in France and Great Britain.
According to the French state energy company EDF, the first EPR reactor in France is scheduled to go online for testing purposes in Flamanville in Normandy in mid-2024 – 17 years following construction began and at a cost of 12.7 billion euros, four times as much as originally intended.
