Nuclear: in Belfort, Macron plays the chief reactor


ERP

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On a visit to the General Electric factories in Belfort on February 10, the President of the Republic reinforced his pro-nuclear positions by announcing that he wanted the construction of six EPRs and the launch of studies to put eight more under construction.

Finally ready, the colossal steel turbine rotor was on its way to the English power station at Hinkley Point. He extended his lease for a few days in one of the large hangars at the General Electric (GE) site in Belfort for the purposes of Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Franche-Comté this Thursday. It was necessary, in the background, this monumental decor, between huge spare parts, to stage “the construction site of the century” unveiled by the President of the Republic. Coming to deliver the details of his decision announced in November to relaunch the nuclear program, the Head of State said “to wish” the construction of six second generation EPRs, with the commissioning of the first reactor by 2035. Macron also intends to launch studies for no less than eight additional EPRs. All of which can be supplemented by the famous SMR (small modular reactors), mini-reactors still at the prototype stage, and “innovative reactors”.

Warning against load breaks within the current fleet, Macron still wants to push back the retirement age for reactors “except for safety reasons” and asked EDF…



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