A heavy investment for commissioning "planned for 2037".

A government report, based on two external audits, estimated the cost of building a program of six new-generation EPR2 nuclear reactors at 51.7 billion euros, excluding financing costs, to which would be added 4.6 billion in case of difficulty in implementation.

"A total construction period of nearly 25 years, for an operating life of the reactors estimated by EDF at 60 years from their commissioning" is mentioned, with therefore the delivery of the first within 15 years.

It remains to be seen how this program, launched by Emmanuel Macron in Belfort on February 10, will be financed.

“We have discussions ahead of us, which will be led by the State, on how to organize the regulation and financing of these EPRs,” EDF CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy said on Friday.

But EDF has announced that it must carry out a recapitalization, with a strong financial contribution from the State.

Only one EPR is currently under construction, that of Flamanville, marked by more than 10 years of delay and significant additional costs.

And everything will also depend on the program of the future President of the Republic...

Radioactive waste management in question

The industrial construction program "not yet being finalized, technical and economic uncertainties remain" and "the costing of the program like its schedule cannot be completely stabilized", however underlines the report published by Matignon and available on the ministry's website. of the ecological transition.

The report also addresses the issue of waste generated by this project.

“The waste that would be produced by new EPR2 type reactors is similar to that already produced by the operation of the current fleet,” he notes.

Concerning the fate of the most radioactive, “at this stage, no redhibitory elements have been identified for their reception in the Cigeo center”, the deep geological storage site under construction in the Meuse, according to the report.

However, it will be necessary to "adjust", or even "if necessary, reinforce or supplement with larger-scale operations" the maintenance strategy for Cigeo's underground structures, depending on the results of monitoring and the duration of operation. of the site.

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