The French government is said to be willing to support a 10-year extension to the life of the country’s nuclear reactors.
The country’s Energy Minister Segolene Royal said she was ready to give the go-ahead for the limit on existing reactors to be pushed from 40 to 50 years.
Nuclear power provides about 75% of France’s electricity but the industry has recently come under the spotlight following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
France has pledged to reduce its reliance on nuclear to 50% by increasing renewable energy.
Royal said:”Yes, I am ready to give this the green light, depending obviously on the opinion of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) …. the French people have for years invested a lot in the nuclear reactors.”
EDF currently operates 58 nuclear reactors in France.
The ASN watchdog has the ability to halt nuclear installations at any time if it sees a risk and is also the only authority which can allow an extension to the life of reactors beyond 40 years.
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