Paris (AFP)

The government sent a letter to EDF asking it to evaluate the state of the nuclear industry and mentioning six possible EPR plants to be built, "a working hypothesis" which, he assured, does not bode "in any way. future decisions concerning the sector.

In this letter dated September 12, made public by Le Monde Monday and which AFP had a copy, the Ministers of Economy and Ecological Transition, Bruno Mayor and Élisabeth Borne, ask the CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy to work on an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, and establish a timetable.

The government thus sets for mid-December 2019, an analysis of the capabilities of the nuclear industry to be able to respond to the execution of a program of construction of three pairs of reactors on three separate sites, each pair being spaced from four years".

"We want the nuclear industry to mobilize to provide the government with evidence to demonstrate its ability to meet a program of construction of new reactors in time and costs," adds the text.

"The government formally denies the slightest decision on the construction of nuclear reactors," said Monday the Ministry of Ecological Transition, reacting to the publication of this letter.

"This letter is part of the work process that will provide by mid-2021 all the elements necessary for an informed decision on the possible commitment of a program for the construction of new EPR2 type nuclear reactors in France. , as announced in the EPP (Multiannual Energy Program, energy roadmap of France, Ed) published in January.There is no novelty, "it adds. "This letter, therefore, does not bode well for decisions that could be made after mid-2021."

- "Escape forwards" for Nuclear exit -

"With regard to the three pairs of two reactors mentioned in the mail, this is a working hypothesis based on our experience of the historic park. to inform a possible decision and does not presage either of it or of the number of reactors which could be decided ", adds the ministry.

EPR2 is a variation on the current EPR, which must be simpler and cheaper. But the EPR being built in Flamanville (Manche) accumulates the setbacks - most recently welding problems - which have inflated the bill (12.4 billion euros now) and largely delayed its start-up schedule. In the best case, the nuclear fuel will be loaded late 2022.

The government, which has been showing signs of impatience for several months, has commissioned an independent audit, whose conclusions are expected at the end of October.

"We consider that the slippages of cost and schedule are not satisfactory and require explanations," said Monday the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

The EPP project for the next ten years opens the door to the construction of new reactors. The government wants to have "by mid-2021" elements to decide in 2022 to launch the possible construction of new EPR to anticipate the replacement of aging reactors.

In a statement, the Nuclear Exit Network worried Monday night that "without any democratic decision, the government gives EDF a mission letter to continue its flight forward."

Abroad, EDF is also experiencing difficulties in England, where its huge construction site for two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C is expected to cost up to 3.3 billion euros more than expected.

© 2019 AFP