France is building 14 new nuclear power plants
| The French government has put the construction of 14 new nuclear power plants on the agenda with the justification that in the shadow of the war in Ukraine, energy has become a weapon of war much more than it had previously planned. |
According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency, quoted by Germany’s “NTV”, in In the coming years, France wants to build eight more nuclear power plants in addition to the six previously planned, and therefore much more than previously planned. The current draft law foresees the construction of eight more nuclear power plants in addition to the six already approved, which was previously discussed as an option by the government, Barre told Dimanesh Tribune. According to him, the construction of 14 reactors is under discussion.
This French minister stated in another part of this conversation: The invasion of Ukraine showed us how important it is to defend ourselves against geopolitical threats. Protect, because energy has become a weapon of war. Based on this, the draft of this law sets ambitious goals and, unlike Germany, places a strong reliance on nuclear energy to replace coal power plants and reduce CO2 emissions in France.
In this way, France wants to reduce the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption from more than 60% currently to 40% in 2035. According to the French energy minister, this goal requires the construction of additional power plants with an output of 13 gigawatts from 2026. He explained that this corresponds to the EPR reactor’s “output eight” and argued: “The historic nuclear fleet will not last forever.” After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, it was considered to provide more power with greater safety. Three models of this reactor are in operation, one in Finland and two in China. However, not only were there construction problems in Finland – there were also delays and cost explosions in EPR projects in France and the UK. France’s first EPR reactor is scheduled to come online for testing purposes in mid-2024 — 17 years after construction began and at a cost of €12.7 billion, four times more than planned, according to French state energy company EDF. /p>
Under planned reforms of the European electricity market, government subsidies for nuclear power plants will continue to be allowed in the EU. Unlike France, the German federal government does not rely on nuclear energy and the last three nuclear power plants were shut down in April last year.
On the other hand, nuclear energy plays an essential role in France’s energy production. In 2022, 56 nuclear power plants were operating in France, the most in Europe.
| Publisher | Tasnim News |
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