The government intends to present a nuclear bill in early 2023 which would “save procedural time” to launch future projects, the Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, announced on Tuesday.
In parallel with the development of renewable energies, we are choosing to reaffirm the central and strategic place of nuclear technology for the success of our energy transition, she said before the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, which asked questions about energy-related topics.
A nuclear bill will introduce provisions to save procedural time on the launch of construction sites, she announced, referring to a presentation of this text probably in early 2023.
Emmanuel Macron announced in February from Belfort the launch of a program to build six EPR reactors and studies for eight more. The France 2030 program also allocates one billion euros to research on small SMR reactors.
And all the reactors that can be extended under demanding security conditions will be, added the minister.
However, the choice of the future energy mix of France will be the subject of a national debate, she assured.
This national consultation will take place from October to January, in each territory, bringing together citizens, associations, elected officials and businesses so that they can take ownership of their energy future, added Ms. Pannier-Runacher, regarding this debate organized by the government.
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At the same time, a public debate will already take place, from October to February, on the construction of the first six EPRs desired by the Head of State. The National Public Debate Commission, which organizes it, had asked that a broader national debate on energy choices could, ideally, take place before the debate on EPRs.
Until Belfort’s speech, France’s official strategy was to close twelve nuclear reactors, after the two already shut down in Fessenheim, an objective which had been engraved in its last multiannual energy program (PPE) 2019-2028, committed in mid-2017 and finally adopted in April 2020.
Before July 1, 2023, a new energy and climate planning law (LPEC) which will have to set the main objectives of the multi-year energy plan (PPE) and the national low-carbon strategy (SNBC) is expected. .