France 'far from ready' to build six new nuclear reactors, audit body says

NEWS WIRES

14 January 2025 at 5:42 am·1-min read

File photo of a nuclear turbine at the GE Steam Power System site in Belfort, France taken Febraury 10, 2022.

France is "far from ready" to begin an estimated €50 billion project to build six new nuclear reactors, a report from the country's top audit body said on Tuesday. Due to financing uncertainties, the supply chain has been unable to prepare for the massive construction project, which is expected to begin in 2027, the report said.

France is "far from ready" to build six nuclear reactors, the state's top audit body said on Tuesday, underlining the challenges the country faces in rejuvenating its ageing fleet of nuclear power plants.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan in 2022 for state-owned utility EDF to build six European pressurised reactors (EPRs).

The cost was estimated at 51.7 billion euros ($52.73 billion), but revised up to 67.4 billion in 2023 on higher raw material and engineering costs.

EDF planned to update that estimate by the end of last year but has not done so publicly.

Construction is expected to get underway in 2027 but with financing for the project still uncertain, the supply chain has not been able to prepare for such a large construction programme, raising the risk of failure, the Court of Auditors said in its report.

France gets about 70% of its power from nuclear plants, but many of its ageing reactors will soon need to be retired.

It added that "the accumulation of risks and constraints could lead to a failure of the EPR2 programme".

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