"To guarantee the energy independence of France, to guarantee the electricity supply of our country and to achieve our objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in 2050, we will, for the first time in decades, relaunch the construction of nuclear reactors in our country and continue to develop renewable energies, "he said on television.
France, which derives most of its electricity from nuclear power, is currently building only one new generation nuclear reactor, the Flamanville EPR (EDF), the work of which began in 2007 has still not been completed.
France plans to build six additional EPRs and EDF submitted a file to the government in the spring on the feasibility and conditions of such a program.
President Macron also recently announced investments in a future small reactor (SMR) project.
A general view of the construction site of the new generation EPR in Flamanville, in the English Channel, July 16, 2013 CHARLY TRIBALLEAU AFP / Archives
"If we want to pay for our energy at reasonable rates and not depend on foreign countries, we must both continue to save energy and invest in the production of carbon-free energy on our soil", said Emmanuel Macron, who has already highlighted the benefits of nuclear energy in recent months, especially from a climate point of view.
"These investments will allow us to live up to our commitments when we close COP 26 in Glasgow," he said, without providing more details on the schedule for these constructions.
© 2021 AFP