The goal of François Hollande to reduce the share of nuclear power to 50% in electricity production was not achieved during his presidency. Despite promising this during his 2012 campaign, he did not succeed even after two terms. However, the current President has shifted direction and instead of intentionally reducing the share of electricity produced by nuclear plants, he plans to build six new reactors, known as EPR 2. These new models will be a simplified version of the existing Flamanville EPR, with the first pair planned for construction in Penly by 2035, followed by pairs in Gravelines and Bugey in the following decade.
However, financing for these new reactors remains a challenge. Initial cost estimates for the program were 51.7 billion euros in 2021 but have since been revised upwards to 67.4 billion euros due to various factors such as inflation and material costs. Despite these challenges, President Macron remains determined to pursue his ambitions and plans to launch another program for the construction of eight additional EPR 2 reactors in the long term. However, resolving issues related to waste disposal and dismantling of older power plants will be crucial for the success of this future program. The government is committed to advancing its nuclear energy agenda despite obstacles such as financing and waste disposal concerns.
