The French nuclear program, in both the military and civilian sectors, is intended to be the showcase of the French state identity. In addition, during the war in Ukraine, re-elected President Emmanuel Macron promises the development of nuclear energy, which should free the country from dependence not only on Russian gas. France can to be proud of itthat it has 56 nuclear units in the country. In addition, they cover up to seventy percent of the country’s electricity production.
The problem is that most units are nearing the end of their forty years, suffer from frequent failures and lack the means to upgrade them. Neighboring Germany in particular, which is giving up the last three blocs at the end of the year, often recalls that the French core is not without problems. Half of France’s nuclear power plants are now out of service for maintenance.
Although Macron has promised to build six new pressurized water reactors in the coming years, it will also extend the life of existing units to fifty years or more if safe. All this in the promise of modernizing the entire French nuclear sector.
However, the reality is much sadder. Regular shutdowns, but also corrosion and other technical shortcomings currently stopped 29 of the 56 nuclear sources and threaten France’s position as one of the largest exporters of electricity in Europe. At the beginning of April, the operator of the RTE transmission network even called for businesses and households to reduce consumption during the morning and evening rush hours. Add to this the fact that the state concern EdF has long been plagued by a lack of funds for the modernization of the nuclear “energy fleet”.
Crack problems
The current complication of many reactors is unexpected problems with corrosion and cracks in cooling systems, written by a Parisian reporter for the German television ARD. “Inspections at this time do not allow a statement to be made about the size of the cracks in the cooling pipes. Because of this, the reactors have to be shut down, “said Bernard Doroszczuk of the French Nuclear Safety Authority without further details. In April, the share of nuclear fell from the usual seventy percent to only 37 percent of electricity production.
The EdF Group has to reckon with further shortfalls in revenues, for this year it estimated them at 18.5 billion euros. Further complications can be expected in the autumn with the arrival of the heating season and lower temperatures. There is no evidence of a rapid solution to the technical problems of aging power plants, and there is a risk that the Gaelic rooster country will have to import electricity.
Jean-Luc Lachaume of the French Institute for Nuclear Safety (IRSN) added that EdF estimates that by 2026 it will need six times more staff. There is a shortage of welders for the cooling circuits, as well as other professional staff who keep the pumps and all the technical facilities of the power plants running. “This calculation does not include the announced construction of new reactors,” explained Jean-Luc Lachaume.
In this critical situation, Doroszczuk even talks about creating a nuclear Marshall Plan that will involve all French industry and the state so that the nuclear sector can meet the goals of the Elysee Palace. Without a huge commitment from both the private and public sectors, France’s whole nuclear dream is likely to collapse.
There is a debate in Europe about boycott of the Russian core, the state – owned company Rosatom, which largely produces nuclear fuel. France or Hungary are still cooperating with him.
It controls two-fifths of fuel cell production worldwide and owns 46 percent of uranium enrichment capacity.
If the EU wants to be independent of Russia’s nuclear fuel, it will have to significantly modernize its production capacity. In France and Germany, they are operated by the French company Framatome, and in Sweden, the American company Westinghouse produces fuel.
However, the increase in capacity will take several years, introduced energy experts from Columbia University. In addition, this would require a commitment from European governments to give up cooperation with Russia on a long-term basis.-
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