France’s nuclear plants are going down for repairs

Danmark Nyheder Nyheder

France’s nuclear plants are going down for repairs
Danmark Seneste Nyt,Danmark Overskrifter
  • 📰 TheEconomist
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 73 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 32%
  • Publisher: 92%

The crunch in electricity supply comes at the worst possible time

Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskSo it came as a shock when President Emmanuel Macron chose the national holiday on July 14th to tell the French that they too had to cut back. He has urged a regime of energy “sobriety”, to reduce consumption and waste. The government wants to shrink overall French energy use by 10% by 2024. It will fine shops if they leave their street doors open while the air-conditioning is on, or their commercial signs lit up all night.

For a country that prizes the semi-independence offered by its nuclear-power industry, this squeeze is awkward. French Greens and left-wing parties may dislike nuclear power. But the country’s nuclear power stations, the first of which opened in 1963, have historically been a source of pride. Today they provide 42% of all energy, compared with just 6% in Germany. While Germany has been phasing out nuclear, Mr Macron plans to build at least six new next-generation reactors in France.

Yet, at the worst possible time, France’s fleet of nuclear stations are under pressure. Over half of the country’s 56 reactors are shut for maintenance, due to routine inspections as well as corrosion issues. Output this winter is expected to be 25% below that in a normal year. To compensate, France has had to buy electricity on wholesale markets. It plans to reopen a coal-fired power station in Saint-Avold, mothballed only in March.

crisis in 2018-19 how an increase in fuel prices can crystallise anger. In contrast to other European countries, consumers in France have been shielded from the worst fuel-price inflation. This week parliament approved fresh subsidies at the pump. But such untargeted measures cannot last forever, and they undermine the parallel effort to curb energy use. Gas may supply only 16% of French energy, but it is used to heat two-fifths of households. When prices do rise, things could turn nasty.

Vi har opsummeret denne nyhed, så du kan læse den hurtigt. Hvis du er interesseret i nyheden, kan du læse hele teksten her. Læs mere:

TheEconomist /  🏆 6. in UK

Danmark Seneste Nyt, Danmark Overskrifter

Similar News:Du kan også læse nyheder, der ligner denne, som vi har indsamlet fra andre nyhedskilder.

Hinkley B: UK's most productive nuclear power plant to closeHinkley B: UK's most productive nuclear power plant to closeHinkley Point B will shut down permanently on Monday, after 46 years generating electricity.
Læs mere »

'Flaky' and 'neurotic' MPs versus a 'narcissistic' PM: Boris Johnson blame game goes nuclear'Flaky' and 'neurotic' MPs versus a 'narcissistic' PM: Boris Johnson blame game goes nuclearTuesday's front page - Boris Johnson blame game: 'neurotic' Tory MPs clash with 'narcissist' PM TomorrowsPapersToday Latest by janemerrick23 as Tory rift goes nuclear:
Læs mere »

Until Jazz decide what to do with Donovan Mitchell, the rest of the roster sits and waitsUntil Jazz decide what to do with Donovan Mitchell, the rest of the roster sits and waitsThe Jazz have a number of win-now veterans that aim to compete next season. But none of them can be dealt until Utah decides to fully tear it down and trade Donovan Mitchell. Tjonesonthenba details the decision the Jazz are facing:
Læs mere »

Iran's atomic energy chief says country could build a bomb but has no plan toIran's atomic energy chief says country could build a bomb but has no plan toThe rare claim is likely to intensify concerns over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.
Læs mere »

Samsung adds 'repair mode' to South Korean smartphoneSamsung adds 'repair mode' to South Korean smartphoneSamsung adds 'repair mode' that hides data on Galaxy smartphones in South Korea
Læs mere »



Render Time: 2025-04-18 12:00:23