France plans to publish a long-awaited decree that should pave the way for new nuclear power plants and set fresh renewables targets by the end of the summer.
The energy road map has been pushed back for more than a year amid political bickering between proponents of nuclear and renewables. That’s cast doubt on the country’s plans to slash carbon emissions and cut reliance on imported fossil fuels, and left some energy investments in limbo.
To break the deadlock, a working group led by two lawmakers will hold fresh hearings by the end of May, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Monday at the National Assembly. Their conclusions will “allow the government to propose an improved and amended version of our future multiyear energy plan,” he said.
President Emmanuel Macron wants to build at least six new reactors — alongside swaths of renewables — in an effort to ensure long-term energy security as France’s existing atomic fleet ages. Nuclear power is also key to the nation’s ambition to be carbon-neutral by midcentury.
Source: Bloomberg
