The construction time for new nuclear reactors could be reduced by at least 2 years thanks to a new bill that simplifies administrative procedures and planning documents. The legislation was approved by parliament in May 2023 and the government hailed an environmental step forward. It also removes the current 50% cap on nuclear power’s share of France’s electricity mix and introduces tougher penalties for people who illegally enter a nuclear power plant.
This was despite the discovery in March 2023 of a large crack inside an emergency cooling circuit in a nuclear reactor near Dieppe, Normandy, the most serious in a series of recent accidents at the country’s nuclear facilities.
