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November 9, 20219:08 PM UTCLast Updated ago
Energy

Macron says France will build new nuclear energy reactors

Reuters

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2 minute read
French President Emmanuel Macron looks on during a news conference
with Benin's President Patrice Talon after the signing of an
agreement about the return of looted cultural artefacts to the
African country, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 9,
2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

French President Emmanuel Macron looks on during a news conference
with Benin's President Patrice Talon after the signing of an
agreement about the return of looted cultural artefacts to the
African country, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 9,
2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS, Nov 9 (Reuters) - France will build new nuclear reactors to
help the country lessen its dependence on foreign countries for its
energy supplies, meet global warming targets and keep prices under
control, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

With concerns over purchasing power topping opinion polls five months
before the presidential election, at a time of soaring energy prices,
Macron said the decision to go for new reactors was essential to keep
prices "reasonable."

"We are going, for the first time in decades, to relaunch the
construction of nuclear reactors in our country and continue to
develop renewable energies," Macron said in a televised address to
the nation.

This was meant "to guarantee France's energy independence, to
guarantee our country's electricity supply and achieve our
objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in 2050," he said.

As Europe grapples with steep increases in energy prices, France is
taking a different path from neighbours like Germany.

Germany responded to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan by
accelerating its national exit scheme for reactors.

Macron gave no details, but his government is expected to announce
the construction of up to six new pressurised-water reactors within
the coming weeks.

Previously, the government had said it would not launch any new
third-generation EPR reactor projects until state-owned EDF's
(EDF.PA) much-delayed EPR nuclear power plant in Flamanville,
northwestern France, is completed.

But French media in October reported that the impact of Europe's gas
crisis on energy prices, and the knock-on effect on household
spending power, had accelerated Paris's decision to commit to the EPR
technology.

Greenpeace criticised Tuesday's announcement, saying the plan to
build new reactors was "disconnected from reality," pointing to the
problems with the Flamanville project, which has suffered a decade of
delays and huge cost overruns.

Early in his mandate, Macron pledged to reduce nuclear's contribution
to France's energy mix to 50% from 75% by 2035.

Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by
Richard Lough

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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