Nuclear energy is a central element of France's latest energy strategy.

The French government has published its third multi-year energy program, which outlines the country's strategy for addressing energy consumption and production issues from 2026 to 2035. The program includes the construction of six new reactors and the extension of the lifespan of the country's existing nuclear fleet.
Nuclear energy is a central element of France's latest energy strategy.
The multi-year energy program (PPE) is not a legislative act but defines the direction of energy policy for the next decade. It pursues two main goals: reducing fossil fuel consumption in the country and ensuring a clear, fair, and sustainable transition.
The government stated that the third multi-year energy program (PPE3) is the result of extensive consultations started in 2022 with members of parliament, industry representatives, and local elected officials. It is based on parliamentary debates that began in the spring of 2025 and on the latest prospective scenarios published by the electricity transmission system operator RTE in December 2025. The chosen guiding principles, as stated, take into account the actual electricity consumption observed in recent years and the firm intention to electrify energy consumption by 2030-2035.
The goal of the PPE3 program is to increase electricity production from decarbonized sources to 650–693 TWh by 2035 compared to 458 TWh in 2023, while simultaneously reducing fossil fuel consumption to approximately 330 TWh by 2035 compared to 900 TWh in 2023. The government stated that such a trajectory "will change the structure of energy consumption in the country: by 2030, 60% of energy will be decarbonized, and by 2035, 70%... The strategy is based on a balanced energy balance, combining nuclear and renewable energy."
The latest nuclear development plan (PPE) sets a target for nuclear energy production in the range of 380-420 TWh per year from 2030 to 2035, compared to the previous range of 360-400 TWh, which corresponds to EDF's target of 400 TWh.
In February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron stated that the time had come for a nuclear revival in France, noting that the operation of all existing reactors should be extended without compromising safety, and presenting the proposed program for the construction of six new EPR2 reactors with the possibility of subsequently building eight more EPR2 reactors.
In the third planning document (PPE3), these ambitions are formalized by calling for: extending the lifespan of existing reactors to 50 or even 60 years, provided that safety requirements are met; building six EPR2 reactors; establishing a goal for a decision to begin construction of eight additional EPR2 reactors as early as 2026; starting construction of the first small modular reactor (SMR) around the early 2030s; and updating the final part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Notably, the latest planning document officially abandoned the previous goal set in PPE2 of shutting down 14 reactors, including two units at the Fessenheim nuclear power plant.
The report notes that the implementation of the PPE3 program will create over 120,000 additional jobs by 2030, particularly in nuclear, solar photovoltaic, and offshore wind energy. This will also help reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, which currently amount to nearly 60 billion euros (71 billion USD) per year.
EDF has expressed its commitment to the PPE3 program, which includes the construction of six EPR2 nuclear reactors and an option to build eight more, which will extend the lifespan of existing nuclear reactors, intensify investments in hydropower, and preserve expertise in renewable energy, particularly in offshore wind projects.  
The Chairman and CEO of EDF, Bernard Fontana, added: "The publication of the multi-year energy program allows EDF to move forward in achieving its goals: to provide the French people today and for future generations with competitive, sovereign, and low-carbon electricity."  
The French nuclear energy association Groupement des Industriels Français de l'Energie Nucléaire (Gifen) stated that PPE3 "represents a decisive step providing France with the necessary visibility for long-term investments, and confirms the key role of nuclear energy at the heart of France's energy strategy. Nuclear energy is a fundamental support for France's energy sovereignty. By providing low-carbon, safe, and controlled electricity, it addresses the challenges of climate, energy, and reindustrialization. By replacing fossil fuels in areas such as transportation and heating, nuclear energy can help accelerate electrification, which is a necessary condition for decarbonizing the economy."

Source: https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/nuclear-central-in-frances-latest-energy-strategy