The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire (d) and the CEO of EDF, Luc Rémont, during a visit to the Gravelines nuclear power plant, January 15, 2024 in the North (AFP/FRANCOIS LO PRESTI)
Bruno Le Maire, visiting a nuclear power plant for his first trip since the Minister of the Economy is also in charge of Energy, expressed his support for renewable energies on Monday.
“Of course I believe in renewable energy,” he said, citing solar and offshore wind, but not onshore wind.
The minister visited the Gravelines nuclear power plant (North), the first in Europe with six reactors built in 1980-1985, on Monday. The site must accommodate two new ones, expected in 2038-2039 as part of the atomic revival program led by Emmanuel Macron.
“We must build six EPRs”, planned for the first by 2035, “the biggest industrial challenge of our time for France”, said Mr. Le Maire.
“The second challenge is to accelerate the deployment of renewable energies. I want to put an end to the vain and useless controversies that our country loves: it is not because we defend nuclear power, which I have always defended, that I am not resolutely committed to the realization of our programs in terms of renewable energies. Of course I believe in renewable energies, that I consider that offshore wind farms, photovoltaic panels, everything which should allow us to diversify our supply of carbon-free electricity is welcome and will benefit from my support.”
He worked to quell questions, particularly from NGOs, about the connection to Bercy of Energy, which in the new government therefore no longer benefits from a dedicated ministry, and is not attached to Ecology either. as has generally been the case since the Grenelle Environment Forum.
“It is not because Energy is at Bercy that we are going to move backwards on the climate transition,” he assured.
The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire (c), during a visit to the Gravelines nuclear power plant, January 15, 2024 in the North (AFP/FRANCOIS LO PRESTI)
“We need nuclear power plants, renewable energies, hydroelectricity, energy sobriety and efficiency and that is all I intend to commit myself to totally, resolutely, daily,” he said. -he added, emphasizing that “the subject [le] passionate.”
As for the possible appointment of a delegate minister, “there is a team at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, so we will work as a team,” he replied. “And on the energy subject, there will not be too many of us with Roland Lescure (outgoing Minister for Industry, Editor’s note) to continue working.”
The minister added that he would also work “in perfect understanding” with his Ecological Transition counterpart Christophe Béchu.
The two managers visited together in Dunkirk the ArcelorMittal steel site, which is carrying out a project to decarbonize its industrial process representing an investment of 1.8 billion euros, including public aid of up to 850 million.
© 2024 AFP
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