PARIS (Reuters) – EDF has significantly increased the cost of its program to build six new EPR2 nuclear reactors, the newspaper Les Echos reported on Monday, citing new estimates from the electrician.
According to Les Echos, the EPR2 bill would now be estimated at 67.4 billion euros, compared to 51.7 billion euros in an estimate made public at the beginning of 2022, an amount to be subject to regular updates.
This increase could be explained in particular by the surge in the cost of construction contracts, adds the newspaper, while France has in the meantime experienced a period of high inflation.
Contacted by Reuters, EDF declined to comment on this figure.
The EDF project involves the construction of six reactors on three existing sites: two in Penly (Seine-Maritime), two in Gravelines (North) and two in Bugey (Ain).
The government plans to define the method of financing the construction program for six EPR2s by the end of the year in order to allow EDF, of which the State once again became the sole shareholder last June, to take a final investment decision in the project.
(Written by Tangi Salaün, with Benjamin Mallet, edited by Sophie Louet)
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