Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

France to shut down oldest nuclear power plant by summer

Move is ‘first phase’ in Macron’s 30-year energy strategy

Wednesday 19 February 2020 10:53 EST
Comments
Fessenheim nuclear power plant has been operating since 1977 and is France's oldest nuclear power plant
Fessenheim nuclear power plant has been operating since 1977 and is France's oldest nuclear power plant (AFP/Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

French prime minister Edouard Philippe has said France’s oldest nuclear power station will be shut down at the end of June, with one of its reactors to be closed this weekend.

In a statement on Wednesday he said the decision was “the first phase” of France’s energy strategy set out in 2018 by president Emmanuel Macron.

The plan calls for a rebalancing of nuclear-produced energy and electricity derived from renewable sources. Coal plants are to be closed by 2022 to reduce greenhouse gases, the statement said.

Activity at Reactor No 1 at the Fessenheim nuclear reactor, on the border with Germany, will be halted on Saturday and the entire complex will stop energy generation on 30 June, the government said.

Germany has long called for the plant, France’s oldest, to be shut down. It is the first nuclear complex to be closed under Mr Macron’s plan.

France depends more on nuclear energy than any other country, getting about three-quarters of its electricity from the plants.

Mr Macron said in 2018, outlining France’s energy strategy for the next 30 years, that 14 nuclear reactors out of the 58 now running at 19 plants will be shut down by 2035. France would cap the amount of electricity it derives from nuclear plants at 50 per cent by then.

Associated Press

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in