Emmanuel Macron announces the construction of new reactors

This is one of Emmanuel Macron’s major announcements during his televised address on Tuesday, November 9. After decades of respite, France will relaunch in the construction of nuclear reactors on the national territory. The last similar project was the EPR site at Flamanville, in Normandy, in 2007. The return of nuclear power is needed, as is the development of renewable energies. The decision of the Head of State is reacting on the side of environmental associations, which note a strategy of “at the same time”.

The president’s announcement goes against the pace followed by the French state, which seemed to be starting to reduce its nuclear fleet, especially after the closure of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant in Alsace. By 2035, nearly 14 of the 56 French reactors in France will have to be shut down. Such a stop could threaten France in terms of energy: “Making the decision to renew the nuclear base is first and foremost the guarantee that we will have enough electricity to decarbonize France […] to get oil out of transport “, explains Valérie Faudon, of the French nuclear energy company. The president will announce his nuclear roadmap in the coming weeks.