FILE PHOTO: Agnes Pannier-Runacher, French deputy Minister for Industry, speaks during the questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, September 21, 2021. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesREUTERS
PARIS (Reuters) – France could decide to build six new nuclear EPR reactors before EDF’s EPR nuclear power plant in Flamanville, northwestern France, is fully operational, Industry Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Friday, as the country bets on renewables and nuclear power for its energy sovereignty.
The French government has said until now it would not launch new EPR reactor projects until the Flamanville EPR station, which suffered several delays, is completed.
The minister did not say when the plant at Flamanville will start running.
State-run EDF’s CEO Jean-Bernard Levy reaffirmed in April that the new EPR reactor at Flamanville was expected to come on line at the end of 2022 but said EDF could not afford further problems if that timetable was to be met.
