The return of Superphénix? France's ambitious plan: six EPR2 reactors and a fleet of fast reactors.

At the Penli nuclear power plant site, chaired by Emmanuel Macron, a meeting of the Council for Nuclear Policy (CPN) was held, which sent a message that France is returning to mass nuclear construction as a guarantor of national sovereignty and affordable energy. The key news from the meeting is the confirmation of the ambitious EPR2 program, but also a revolutionary plan to completely eliminate the import of natural uranium by the end of the century

The Council received a revised budget for the construction of the first six reactors of the new generation (EPR2) which will be located in Penli, Gravelines and Bugey (two reactor units at each site). EDF committed to a figure of 72.8 billion euros, under the strict supervision of the Interministerial Delegation for New Nuclear Energy (DINN).

The state will directly support the project through a subsidized loan covering 60% of total costs, financed from citizens' savings funds (Caisse des Dépôts). The final investment decision will be made before the end of 2026, with the aim that the first reactor is on grid by 2038.

Additionally, the program "Aval du Futur" (Future Downstream), led by Orano, envisions the complete modernization of the La Agu plant, the construction of new spent fuel storage pools and a new plutonium processing plant (Melox 2) and the construction of the La Hague 2 fuel processing plant, whose ultimate goal is for France to maintain global leadership in reprocessing and recycling and reuse of nuclear fuel, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

But perhaps the Council's most ambitious decision is launching a program to close the nuclear fuel cycle: France plans to completely stop importing natural uranium by 2100, and this will be achieved by developing fast-neutron spectrum reactors (“fast-neutron reactors”). The Council has therefore approved a four-year study phase, with a plan for the construction of the first reactor of this type to begin by 2030.

This project is, in a sense, the successor to the highly ambitious French project from a few decades ago when Superphénix operated in France, a fast-breeder reactor and an incredibly advanced technological complex that could several decades ago radically reduce the already very small ecological footprint of nuclear energy and bring it almost to zero – because it reduces the need for uranium mining and almost completely eliminates the amount of spent nuclear fuel. But this project was shut down after, among other things, massive protests by the environmental movement.

And ahead of the large-capacity EPR2 reactor, Macron approved additional funding for two small modular reactors (SMR) – Calogena and Jimmy – as part of the "France 2030" plan.

Moreover, EPR2 is a direct response to issues with the EPR at Flamanville, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell. It is simplified and optimized for faster construction and stands as one of the proposed technologies for Serbia in the Preliminary Study, so ultimately this could be information of key significance for Serbia.

We also note that EDF, Orano and CEA issued a joint statement – in France there are no dissonant tones; industry and the state speak with one voice. This is the “human and institutional capital” that we continually emphasize as a prerequisite for success.