France to build new nuclear reactors: Macron
"We will for the first time in decades relaunch the construction of nuclear reactors," French president Emmanuel Macron announced on November 10, to help reduce France's reliance on foreign energy supplies and meet its climate targets.
Nuclear power dominates France's energy mix, accounting for more than 70% of power generation capacity. Previously the government said it would not build anymore reactors until the long-delayed EPR power plant in Flamanville, northwest France, was completed. But Macron said extra reactors were crucial for keeping power prices "reasonable."
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Wholesale power prices have soared in Europe amid surging gas demand and a crunch in gas supply, as well as weaker performance from renewable energy sources over the summer. France is leading a group of EU countries advocating for nuclear power to be recognised as a low-cost and climate-friendly provider of energy security.
France will continue expanding its use of renewables, Macron said. But building more nuclear reactors will "guarantee France's energy independence, to guarantee our country's electricity supply and achieve our objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in 2050," he said.
France's position on nuclear power is in stark contrast to that of neighbouring Germany, which plans to phase out the energy source by next year.