Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of Economy and Energy, expressed caution regarding the construction goals for new French nuclear reactors. He emphasized the need for the industry to “rebuild” while facing this industrial project of “gigantic scale.”
Macron’s Ambitious Nuclear Plan
On February 10, 2022, in Belfort, President Emmanuel Macron announced the extension of the lifespan of active nuclear reactors and the creation of six new-generation reactors (EPR2).
Le Maire highlighted the “gigantic scale” of the project to build six new EPRs, stating, “This is an industry that unfortunately has experienced ups and downs, has faced excessive criticism, has lost many skills, and must now rebuild.”
Conditional Approval for Additional Reactors
“If EDF provides proof of its ability to build these six EPRs under good conditions, on time, and within budget, we will have to consider this option of eight new EPR2,” Le Maire added.
In mid-May, EDF reached a decisive step in commissioning the new-generation EPR reactor in Flamanville by completing fuel loading, twelve years after the initially planned date, due to the multiple setbacks the project encountered.
Focus on the Next Steps
“It’s about seeing in the coming years how the launch of these six EPR2 goes, the first one to be built from 2035,” Le Maire added. The government has also given the green light to EDF to start preparatory work for the two future new-generation EPR2 reactors planned for this deadline at the Penly nuclear power plant (Seine-Maritime), according to a decree of June 3 published Wednesday in the Official Journal.