France to use nuclear reactors for energy until 2022

The French government will not close any of its nuclear reactors besides Fessenheim before the end of the current presidential mandate which runs until 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

In a long-awaited speech on energy strategy, Macron said France would reduce its share of nuclear energy in power production to 50 per cent by 2035 from 75 per cent today, but he said France would not phase out nuclear entirely.

Macron said 14 of EDF's 58 nuclear reactors would be closed by 2035, including four to six before 2030, two in 2027-28 and possibly two in 2025-26 if this does not jeopardise the security of power supply.

As part of the policy, Macon said France would aim to increase the number of interconnectors with neighbouring countries so as to broaden and bolster energy supplies and keep prices contained. 

(With inputs from agencies.)