The French government has announced that it will completely nationalize the major power companies whose profits are deteriorating and promote the construction of new nuclear power plants along with the spread of renewable energy.
France's Prime Minister Borne said in a parliamentary statement on the 6th that the country will acquire the remaining shares of the electric power company "EDF", which holds about 84% of the shares, and completely nationalize it.
Prime Minister Borne emphasized the idea of promoting the construction of new nuclear power plants, saying, "We will invest in the construction of new nuclear power plants and the development of next-generation nuclear power plants along with the spread of renewable energy."
France is a nuclear power plant that supplies about 70% of its electricity from nuclear power plants. In February, President Macron announced a policy to build six new nuclear power plants with the aim of decarbonizing and independence of energy.
However, EDF, which is in charge of the French nuclear power business, is about 10 years behind the plan for the construction of a new reactor, and its cost is increasing.
In addition, 12 of the 56 nuclear power plants in Japan have been shut down due to problems with the piping of nuclear reactors, and the power supply capacity has declined, resulting in worsening profits.
The French government seems to be aiming to stabilize the nuclear power plant business and ensure energy security by completely nationalizing it, and to support the nuclear industry where about 220,000 people work.