François Hollande, Emmanuel Macron’s predecessor, had promised to reduce the share of nuclear power in electricity production to 50% during his campaign in 2012. However, he was unable to fulfill this promise during his presidency, culminating in the closure of the Fessenheim power plant in Haut-Rhin in 2020. President Macron has now shifted course completely, with plans to build six new reactors, EPR 2, a simplified version of the current Flamanville EPR.
The State plans to build three pairs of EPR 2 reactors on existing sites: first in Penly by 2035, then in Gravelines and Bugey in the following decade. Despite these ambitious plans, there are financial challenges on the horizon. EDF’s initial estimates put the cost of the program at 51.7 billion euros, but this has already been revised upwards to 67.4 billion euros. The President remains undeterred and has plans in the longer term to construct eight more EPR 2 reactors.
However, the financing of this program remains a major obstacle, with EDF likely requiring state aid to proceed. In addition, challenges related to waste disposal and the dismantling of older power plants must be addressed before the new reactors can be built. Despite these challenges, President Macron remains determined to push forward with his plans for expanding nuclear energy in France.