nuclear-news

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

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. It added that EDF is also facing “a
considerable increase” in costs at the UK’s Hinkley Point nuclear plant,
which it is now shouldering alone after the withdrawal of Chinese partner
CGN in 2023.

It should secure new investors in the project, before
committing financing for Britain’s Sizewell C plant, it said. EDF
reiterated that its contribution to the financing of Sizewell C was subject
to the fulfilment of certain conditions, including its stake capping at
20%.

France24 14th Jan 2024, www.france24.com/en/europe/20250114-france-far-from-ready-to-build-six-new-nuclear-reactors-audit-body-says

January 16, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized