They are not necessarily American-style survivalists, but rather ordinary French people, who are worried about the nuclear risk as the war in Ukraine enters its second month. Indeed, France is the 2nd country in the world in terms of the number of nuclear power plants, but has only 1,000 anti-atomic shelters, of which only 400 are owned by individuals.
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Count 96,000 euros for the standard model: a 14 square meter reinforced concrete bunker that can accommodate six people, equipped with the bare minimum. “Armored door, armored shutters, ventilation, dry toilets, bunk beds, electrical network and water network, emergency exit”, explains Enzo Petrone, boss of Amesis Bat, one of the leaders in the sector. The 26 square meter version, for 12 people, with generator and drinking water supply, will cost you 116,000 euros.
“A client asked us for a pool in his bunker. He told us ‘when the world is over, I’ll be in my pool sipping my aperitif’.”
Enzo Petroneat franceinfo
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, his company has received 20 times more orders than usual and has finalized around ten contracts. Or as much as over an entire year in normal times. With also an argument for the hesitant: the added value of a house equipped with an anti-atomic shelter. One of his clients, he says, has tripled the sale price of his house.
At Artemis Protection, created less than a year ago, the same trend: 900 requests for quotes in the last 30 days, explains director Mathieu Séranne. “What they fear more specifically is the accident in a Ukrainian nuclear power plant, for example, a ‘Chernobyl 2’, rather than a real bombing in France or a world war. There is a strong emotional reaction because no one can predict the outcome of this conflict, and there is a realization that we were completely unprepared for this type of major event.”
The worst is never certain, Mathieu Séranne points out that a shelter can also be used to store works of art or wine, or even serve as a guest room or unusual AirBnB accommodation.
The owners meanwhile categorically refuse to communicate about their bunker. In view of the too few shelters in France, they fear being taken by storm in the event of disaster or war.