The government promises to quickly reassure EDF on the framework which will make it possible to finance the first six EPR2, these new nuclear reactors wanted by Emmanuel Macron and EDF, announced the Minister of Energy, Olga Givernet, before a Senate committee on October 15. .
This is one of the crucial points for the nuclear program announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2022 to truly be launched, but which has been progressing in disorderly stages since then.
The public group as well as the Head of State, who converted to nuclear power on the eve of his second term, consider these new reactors essential to avoid the “cliff effect” of the French nuclear fleet.
EDF's reactors were in fact built at full speed in the 1970s and 1980s. The park is therefore aging as a whole. Thus, in less than twenty years, 25 of the 57 French nuclear reactors will be 60 years old or more. However, nothing says that the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) will authorize such long-term use. It is only beginning to authorize on a case-by-case basis an extension of activity beyond 40 years, the maximum duration of use initially planned.
EDF will not be able to finance the first six planned EPR2s alone. It has already done this for the Flamanville EPR after the withdrawal of the Italian Enel in 2012. The latter was the only other partner in this project, the final cost of which has still not been revealed while the EPR is officially in service. The latest estimate reaches 19.4 billion compared to 3 in the initial estimate….
