A senior French government minister has told parliament that a decision in favour of starting construction on the lead unit of the next generation European PWR - the EPR - is imminent. The statement made it clear that the decision will be led by the administration's belief that nuclear power is, combined with renewables and gas, the only realistic answer to combating the greenhouse effect.
Francis Mer, the minister for the economy, finances and industry, made the statement during evidence to a standing committee on, among other things, energy policy. The industry secretary Nicole Fontaine announced at the same time further details of the government's plan for a comprehensive reform of national energy policy. There will be a continued commitment to nuclear power, but it will be combined with the promotion of natural gas and renewable energy sources. Broadly, the minister was rather down on wind energy (because of environmental impact) and CHP (because of the cost implications for EDF of the CHP purchase obligation) and encouraging of photovoltaic options. Hydropower, it seems, is already at the point of maximum exploitation.
l All 34 of France's 900 MWe class nuclear reactors have had their lifetimes extended by 10 years, following their second yearly review. Most of them started up in the late 1970s and early 1980s and are reviewed together. Preparations are now being made for the review of 20 units of the 1300 MWe series. Next in line will be the four 1450 MWe reactors.
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