France Faces over €100 Bln Cost to Extend Lifespan of Nuclear Plants

A recent report from France’s Court of Auditors revealed that extending the lifespan of the country’s nuclear power plants to 50–60 years will cost over €100 billion.

The report outlines that the second phase of the program will incur €33 billion in expenses from 2022 to 2028, with a similar amount projected from 2029 to 2035. From the program’s inception in 2014 through 2035, total costs are expected to reach €100.8 billion, rising to €131.9 billion when additional operational maintenance expenses are included.

Despite the high costs, the report states that for energy company EDF, which operates France’s nuclear fleet, extending the life of existing plants remains the most cost-effective way to maintain current electricity production levels compared to building new facilities.

The financial pressures and operational challenges are driven by the ageing of reactors, which currently average 40 years, matching their original design lifespan, and the continual tightening of safety standards, particularly after Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011.

The Court of Auditors stressed that life extensions are essential for EDF. Without them, France’s nuclear output could drop by half over the next 20 years. The country currently operates 57 nuclear reactors.

In February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to construct six new-generation reactors, with the potential for eight more, as part of a broader nuclear revival strategy.