France under a microscope - Nuclear power in France

The first French nuclear power plant was built in 1956, but it was only after the 1970's oil shock that nuclear power gained an important place in the French energy sector. Planning Act 2005-781 of 13 July 2005 laying down French energy policy orientations confirmed that nuclear energy was to remain the primary source of electricity supply in France. The Act also encourages diversification of sources of electricity production through renewable energies (wind power, biomass) and the security of electricity supply from oil, gas and coal. Nuclear energy accounted for 78.4% of electricity production in France in 2006. French nuclear capacity includes 58 pressurized water reactors (PWRs) that produced 450 billion nuclear kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006, i.e. 78.4% of total electricity production which is of 574 billion kWh. The lifetime of a third of currently operating nuclear plants will end in around 2020 and, with a view to the renewal of its nuclear capacity, France is about to deploy new-generation reactors that meet requirements in terms of production, environmental protection and enhanced nuclear safety. In April 2007, France started building a third-generation EPR reactor at Flamanville in the Manche Department. The EPR is to be operational by 2012. France is also devoting research programmes to fourth generation reactor technology with a view to those reactors being operational by 2040. There are a number of reasons for choosing nuclear power: it enables France to ensure its national energy independence (France imports less than 50% of its energy resources) and environmental protection (France is one of the European countries which emits the least greenhouse gases) at a stable and competitive price. Decree 2008-378 of 21 April 2008 instituted a council on nuclear policy presided by the President of the Republic. The council will define the broad lines of nuclear policy and monitor their implementation, particularly with regard to exports and international cooperation, industrial policy and energy, research, security, and environmental safety and protection policies. Nuclear safety covers all accident prevention techniques and applies to all stages of the nuclear process from the design to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, including transport of radioactive substances. The French Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) is a governmental agency that provides expertise in research into and assessment of nuclear and radiological risks. The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) is an Independent Administrative Authority established by Act No. 2006-686 of 13 June 2006 on Transparency and Security in the Nuclear Field also known as the 'TSN Act'. The ASN is responsible for monitoring civil nuclear activities in France and protecting workers, patients undergoing radiotherapy, the public, and the environment from risks relating to nuclear activities. Radioactive waste is classified according to its radioactive intensity and radioactive half-life. The French Nuclear Safety Authority distinguishes between very short-lived radioactive waste whose radioactivity halves under 150 days, short-lived radioactive waste whose radioactivity halves under 30 years, and long-lived radioactive waste whose radioactivity halves after 30 years. The 58 nuclear reactors in France generate 1 kilogram of radioactive waste per inhabitant per year about 900 grams of which are short-lived low active or medium active waste, 90 grams are long-lived medium active waste and 10 grams are high active waste. 96% of radioactivity is contained in less than 1% of waste. This nuclear waste is processed by category under the safety and radioprotection conditions laid down in the framework law on energy and the public authorities. ANDRA, the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management, has been recording the presence of nuclear waste in France since 1991 and has published an inventory of this waste and its locations since 2004. ANDRA is also responsible for providing forward information on the volume of waste to be processed within 10 years, 20 years and after. It should be noted that France is one of the few countries where all fuel cycle facilities are found that deal with the following cycle stages: conversion, enrichment, fabrication, reprocessing and recycling of nuclear materials. France is a benchmark at world level for the control of fuel cycle safety