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France to Decide Closure of Nuclear Plants by End 2018

France aims to reduce to 50% the share of nuclear power.
France aims to reduce to 50% the share of nuclear power.

France will detail at the end of 2018 how many nuclear reactors will close to meet a target on reducing atomic energy, Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot told French daily Le Monde on Saturday. France aims to cut the share of atomic energy in power generation to 50% by 2025 from 75% now. Nuclear plant closures represent a touchy topic, as the sector employs thousands of people and renewable energy alternatives struggle to grow fast enough to ensure energy needs are fulfilled, Reuters reported.

According to France’s National Council of Industry, the nuclear sector supports about 220,000 jobs, directly and indirectly. Hulot will lay out his so-called “green deal” on energy transition in the first half of 2018.

“In order to reduce to 50% the share of nuclear power, we will have to close a number of reactors,” he said, adding that he would detail the exact figure under a multi-year plan to be presented at the end of 2018. Hulot said in July that as many as 17 of France’s 58 reactors may need to close to meet the target, but he did not stick to that forecast in later comments on the subject.

 

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