France does not fear Europe on the option nuclear despite being eliminated from the new draft of the European plan for industry. After the proposal of an alliance with 11 countries at the last summit in Brussels and the applause of Matteo Salvini, the colossus Framatome announced 100 million of euros of investments on its plants in Burgundy. "We must join forces to have the necessary security, develop skills, discuss research and value chains," said the minister for transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher at the end of February. The first step of this will was the visit of Pannier-Runacher herself at the announcement of the new investments of Framatome. Historical presence in the reactor and nuclear components market, the Company will build nuclear tanks in the new plant of Saône-et-Loire. The tanks are intended for future reactors EPR 2 which are the new frontier in this field. More than one will be built every year so that they can be delivered by 2026 and the reactors operational by 2035. An accelerated work plan to increase domestic nuclear power by about 30%.
Is nuclear energy transition?
If everything is respected thanks also to a hundred new hires, it is not excluded that it will even be implemented 14 new reactors in about ten years. France repatriates its nuclear assets, the minister stressed, given that these components are currently being built outside the country. In the list of announcements on the transition (?) there is no lack of accents on a certain idea of energy sovereignty. Something that Emmanuel Macron would like to extend to other European countries. The Italian Minister Matteo Salvini from this point of view can prove to be an ally but certainly not enough. A year ago in a speech in Belfort, a town between Lyon and Strasbourg, the French President announced his energy program based above all on the nuclear option. However, the resumption of activities will have a parliamentary passage. The government doesn't seem overly concerned especially since the responsibilities for stopping the atom programs go back to the presidency of Francois Hollande.
France: nuclear energy brings new jobs
Be that as it may, the move towards the involvement of other countries is part of Macroni's strategy and exploits the opportunity of reducing imports of gas from Russia. The forces closest to the government - even in very hot days of protests - use the leverage of the new occupation linked to the development of power plants. Again according to Minister Pannier-Runacher, only in 2023 will nuclear power create 10 new jobs throughout France. In short, sovereignty in such a delicate and strategic field is good for the country. The French also wonder if there is no room for les renewables. Yes, replied the minister, “in parallel with nuclear power, the development of renewable energy production capacity continues. One does not exclude the other”. In reality it seems that one prevails over the other without excessive impulses on wind, photovoltaic, biomass or other.
The holes in the system
A veil on so much enthusiasm for theatom, however, arose the other day with the summoning of EDF by the nuclear police for a breakdown in the stopped reactor of Penly in Normandy. The system held, the electricity was not interrupted and ultimately there was no alarm. But EDF will have to review the programs on its reactors which have been experiencing problems since 2021, the year in which the Company closed 16 out of 56. The French with Macron have also brought home the nuclear option on taxonomy, While environmental movements they seem to be moving on slippery ground with no prospects. In any case, we must wait for the parliamentary discussion and then stretch our gaze to the Elysée. The Presidency of the Republic is the place and symbol of French power, but it really seems that in that place so full of authority "of the (electoral) tomorrow there is no certainty".
