More about the nuclear issue in France in the clip above

Almost two years ago, France closed its first nuclear power plant, and more were to follow.

Now the government has turned around and instead wants to extend the operation of the old reactors and also build six new ones.

And ahead of the presidential election in April, energy supply has become a key issue.

- To guarantee the energy supply for our country and achieve the goals for carbon neutrality by 2050, we will for the first time in several decades resume the construction of nuclear power reactors in our country, President Emmanuel Macron has said.

Expert: Must prove competitive

However, French energy expert Nicolas Berghmans believes that the new reactors must produce nuclear power at a lower cost than has been the case so far.

He is researching at the independent research institute IDDRI in Paris and points to the fact that France's newest reactor has been significantly delayed and also cost several times more than budgeted.

- This type of increase in price cannot be repeated, and the industry is now trying to show that they can build more competitive nuclear power plants.

And when comparing the cost of electricity with that from wind and solar energy, one must also take into account that nuclear power produces electricity even at night and when it is not blowing, which is one of its strengths, Berghmans tells Agenda.

With its 58 reactors, France is already today the world's most nuclear power - dependent country, almost 70 percent of the country's energy production takes place at the 18 power plants that are currently in operation.

And so they look to be more.

"The best sleep"

One who disapproves of the resurrected interest in new nuclear power is André Jacques.

He lives in Normandy in western France, between the La Hague and Flamanville nuclear power plants.

Opponent of nuclear power André has visited the wrecked reactors in Fukushima, Japan, and concluded that the nuclear power plants pose a highly concrete risk to people and the environment.

He points across the bay to the new large reactor at Flamanville, the only one built in France in decades.

It has been delayed by ten years and several times more expensive due to deficiencies that have been discovered but are planned to be taken into use in a year.

- It's the beast that sleeps.

We hope it never opens.

The support is growing

But popular support for nuclear power is growing in France.

Many hope that an expansion can be the solution to energy shortages and skyrocketing electricity prices.

A change of opinion welcomed by Jean-Luc Vincent, head of Tricastin, one of France's largest nuclear power plants.

He believes that people are beginning to understand that the climate threat is much greater than the threat from hypothetical nuclear accidents.

- When you talk about climate change, it is the whole of humanity that is in danger, no one on earth is safe.

I do not think it can be compared to a local accident like the one caused by the tsunami in Fukushima.