France to build nuclear reactors again for the first time in decades
France will again build nuclear reactors on its territory "for the first time in decades" to guarantee its energy independence without contributing to the acceleration of climate change, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday.
The French government wants to reduce its dependence on foreign sources for energy supplies at a time when Europe is facing rising gas and electricity bills.
"We will restart the construction of nuclear reactors in our country and we will continue to develop renewable energies," he stated in an institutional message in which he also stated that France would intensify the manufacture of key technological components to also reduce its dependence on the United States and Asia.
Although he has not given details, Macron already said last month that one of the Government's bets would be for small nuclear reactors of the SMR type, faster and cheaper to build, with an installed power of about 170 MW per unit.
210724 류진 영통 사용법 1. 칭찬 많이 해 주기 2. 많이 예뻐 해 3. 먹을 것 잘 주기 #itzy #있지 #Ryujin #류진 https://t.co/1ujvwceqh
— 륮토피아 Sat Jul 24 04:36:42 +0000 2021
70% of its electricity comes from nuclear power
France gets about 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, thanks to the 45 atomic reactors that are still in operation.
Since 2007, a conglomerate of state-owned companies has been building a new-generation EPR-type reactor, with some 1,650 MW of power, in Flamanville (Normandy, northwest), but the project is plagued by technical problems and cost overruns that have caused long delays.
Macron has indicated this Tuesday that the start of the construction of new reactors will help "guarantee" the country's independence and energy supply, while advancing towards the goal of France achieving carbon neutrality for the year 2050.
