French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the county would be moving ahead with plans to build more nuclear reactors. Macron said the additional nuclear reactors should reduce its dependence on foreign energy supplies while also meeting its climate targets.
Apart from the advantages mentioned earlier, Macron said the additional power sources should help keep energy prices under control. The announcement comes amid increasing concerns over the soaring energy prices across Europe due to supply shortages and supply chain disruptions.
Macron said the decision to build new reactors would be vital in keeping energy prices across the county at "reasonable" rates. In his televised address to the nation, Macron announced that France will be re-launching its nuclear reactor campaign as part of its modern strategy to develop more renewable energy sources.
Macron did not provide any further information, but his administration is anticipated to announce the building of up to six new pressurized-water reactors in the coming weeks.
Macron argued that building new nuclear reactors would "guarantee France's energy independence" while also guaranteeing a stable supply of electricity for everyone's needs. He added that the initiative will also be in line with the nation's target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The French government previously said that no additional third-generation EPR reactor projects would be launched until northern France's much-delayed EPR nuclear power station is built.
However, French media stated in October that the impact of Europe's gas crisis on energy costs and the resulting impact on family spending power had expedited Paris's commitment to the EPR technology.
France is pursuing a different road than its neighbors, such as Germany, as Europe grapples with sharp rises in energy prices. Germany has accelerated its national reactor departure program in response to the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011.
Greenpeace slammed Tuesday's statement, claiming the proposal to construct more reactors was "disconnected from reality," citing the Flamanville project's ten-year delays and massive cost overruns as an example.
Macron previously committed to cutting the country's dependence on nuclear power. He claimed that he wanted to cut nuclear power's contribution to France's energy mix from 75% to 50% by 2035.
