France plans for new nuclear reactors

President Emmanuel Macron calls for renaissance of the French nuclear industry as part of transition to net zero

French president Emmanuel Macron has set out plans to build up to fourteen new nuclear power plants over the coming decades as part of the country’s transition to net zero. Macron has committed to building six reactors, with construction scheduled to start in 2028 and the first new reactor commissioned by 2035. France will study the possibility of a further eight plants. Macron also says he wants to extend the lifetime of France’s existing nuclear fleet. “What we have to build today—because it's the right moment—is the renaissance of the French nuclear industry," says Macron, who faces presidential elections later this year. These new builds are a “choice of progress, a choice of confidence