France's EDF plans to build two new nuclear reactors by 2030 to start renewing its existing fleet of 58 aging reactors, the state-controlled utility said in a document released on Thursday. The two new French reactors are part of a plan to bring up to 10 European Pressurized Reactors designed by French nuclear technology company Areva on stream by 2030, EDF said in the document, Reuters reported. EDF did not detail its forecast, but four EPRs are already under construction, including one in Olkiluoto, Finland, and one in Flamanville, France—both years behind schedule and billions of euros over budget. The company is also building two units in Taishan, China, and plans to build four in Britain. In October, it agreed to build two EPRs in Hinkley Point, in the south of England, by 2025 in a $28-billion project with Chinese utility China General Nuclear, which will take a 33.5% stake. The Chinese utility has also agreed to help EDF build two more EPRs in east England.
