Decades of neglect, spiralling costs and political denial have turned Frances once-vaunted nuclear program into a cautionary tale, writes Jean-Luc Porquet (translated by DrEvan Jones).
EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSED to work to plan.
The 58 French nuclear reactors built at an accelerated pace between 1977 and 1996 were due to tranquilly finish their life after 30 years of good and faithful service. And the new super-powerful EPRs [European Pressurised Reactors], designed and built bylctricit de France, were to effect a seamless transition.
It was estimated that, by 2012, the first French EPR would be put into operation at Flamanville.
Kapow! Not only has its cost, initially fixed at 3.3 billion [AU$5.9 billion], multiplied by six (!), but its construction site has proved a nightmare. The EPR was connected to the grid only in 2024. And it has hardly run since (it is currently in shutdown).
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An emergency patch-up job has been necessary on the aged French nuclear park so that its tired reactors can hang on for another 20 years. Total cost of this major overhaul now in progress: 100 billion [AU$180 billion].
At the moment when the urgent necessity to find 40 billion [AU$72 billion] in economies for the 2026 budget obsesses theBayrouGovernment [under pressure from Brussels],Reporterrepublishes on YouTube a remarkable documentary by journalistLaure Noualhat, titledNuclaire Comment il va ruiner la France. (See also Noulhats book,Le nuclaire va ruiner la France, Seuil-Reporterre, 224p.) It is noted there that, in the fairytale world that is nuclear energy, billions waltz out by the dozens. The golden rule is: Whatever it costs!
Other inescapable costs to come? To prolong the life of the plant at The Hague, where nuclear fuel is processed and which is at the end of its life rough estimate: 34 billion [AU$61 billion]. To continue to dig deep atBure, where the most dangerous nuclear waste will be buried 500 metres below ground estimated cost: 35 billion [AU$63 billion]. To dismantle the 58 reactors, which, even patched up, will finish by being at the end of their life in ten or 20 years cost: 50 billion. Total: 219 [AU$395.8 billion] to find. This is not all.
The EDF has sold an EPR to Finland for 3 billion [AU$5.4 billion] and two others to the United Kingdom for 22 billion [AU$39.7 billion]. And has promised to take care of any additional costs. Such comes in at 12 billion [AU$21.6 billion] for the former, 56 billion [AU$101 billion] for the latter. Do the maths.
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Thomas Piquemal, the EDFs chief financial officer at the time, went into meltdown. And resigned [in March 2016]. And this is not all.
In 2022, PresidentMacronannounced that, at his demand, the EDF will launch six new generation EPRs [initially, then eight more to 2050]. Hand on heart, it will happen (in fact, one knows nothing about them). Estimated total price: 100 billion [AU$180.7 billion] (more or less). A former EDF Director,Philippe Huet, interviewed by Laure Noualhat, called this a crazy gamble.
If ever this delusional program (transparently dismissed by theCour des comptes[equivalent to the National Audit Office] as inadvisable) sees the day, who will pay for it? Not the EDF, already indebted to the tune of 55 billion [AU$99 billion]. Nor any private investor (not mad!). Guess...
Jean-Luc Porquethas been a journalist atLe Canard enchansince 1994, where this article appeared on 9 July. He writes a column on ecology and technocratic society, as well as theatre reviews.
Translated by DrEvan Jones, with permission.
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