The nuclear pool project in La Hague continues, soon a new phase of consultation

This marks the end of the first stage of the spent nuclear fuel storage pool project in La Hague. This Saturday, October 8, EDF presented the lessons she learns
of the preliminary consultation phasestarted in November 2021 and finished in July 2022. The project is continuing and will enter a second phase of continuous consultation, starting in 2023.

EDF undertakes to better explain its project

The company retains three main lessons from these first exchanges with local residents, associations and elected officials. First of all, that she will have to better explain this swimming pool projectin a national context. “We have the feeling that there was a misunderstanding of the project from the start”says Philippe Legrand, regional relations manager at EDF and spokesperson for the project.

“I hear above all a strong demand that we can re-explain the place of the swimming pool with regard to the laws to come”he continues, referring to the renewable energy acceleration bill
which must be presented at the end of October and which worries the opponents of the project, who fear less consideration of the opinion of the population.

The location of the building re-examined

EDF also displays a willingness to take feedback from the field into account prior consultation, in particular on the location of the swimming pool building, which must be built on the western part of the Orano site. “We are studying a relocation of the building to stick it as much as possible to the existing buildings of Orano, to limit the visual impact”, explains Philippe Legrand. Other elements taken into account, the roundabout of the goats in Jobourg will be preserved and the fluidity of the D901 which runs along Orano will be studied.

Finally, the company is committed to communicating transparently and regular. A dialogue and a trust that will have to be renewed, because the debates have far from been appeased in recent months at public meetings
. “I regret that it was not more serene”recognizes Philippe Legrand.

A new phase of consultation continues

Hence the start of a new phase of consultationthis time continuing, in 2023, still under the aegis of the guarantors of the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP
). “We proposed to set up working groups on different themes (landscape integration, infrastructure and socio-economic issues). And all this with communication that must be continuous and transparent: that is a strong commitment that EDF is making vis-à-vis the actors of the territory”assures the relationship manager and spokesperson for EDF on the project.

“We have not yet defined the scope of these working groups” – Philippe Legrand

But what will be the place of the inhabitants in this new consultation? Nothing is done yet. “For the moment, we have not yet defined the scope of these different working groups. However, what is certain is that a website will be available to deliver information, but also to collect it. to feed the various working groups”says Philippe Legrand.

This new phase will therefore open at the beginning of 2023, after a meeting of the CNDP, until 2025, the date of the opening of the public inquiry. The State will then make its decision in 2027 and work can then begin. For the moment, a single storage pool is under study and could contain 6,500 tonnes of spent fuel, for a total cost of 1.25 billion euros. Its commissioning should take place in 2034.