Which nuclear policy for France? Note no. 184

Through seven observations, the authors question the French nuclear policy: France needs its electro-nuclear fleet on the short term and on the medium term, the issue of the Fessenheim plant shutting down, the cost of the Flamanville EPR, the peculiarities of the French electro-nuclear fleet, the issues of perspectives and anticipations for the French electro-nuclear fleet, the construction of new reactors (but which ones?), and whom to sell nuclear in the world. Five proposals are then stated for the French nuclear policy: to perform a transparent simulation of the condition of the electric power reactor fleet by 2025, to explicit possible choices within the nuclear fleet with respect to the 50-per-cent standard, to clarify consequences of Fessenheim shutting downs in terms of jobs, to develop a nuclear industrial policy, and to strengthen the democratic control and to create a High Council for Nuclear Safety.