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Released April 14, 2017 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--French energy giant Électricité de France SA (EPA:EDF) (Paris, France) has opted to defy plans by the government to shut down the country's oldest nuclear plant at Fessenheim in eastern France.
The company's board of directors voted on a number of measures that would see the life of Fessenheim extended until next year. The decision goes against the wishes of French President Francois Hollande, who was elected on promises of reducing the country's reliance on nuclear power and having Fessenheim closed by the end of his term, which falls next month. The French government has committed itself to reducing its reliance on nuclear power from approximately 75% to 50%. For additional information, see October 16, 2014, article - France to Cut Nuclear Reliance to 50%.
France has capped its nuclear generating capacity 63.2 gigawatts (GW), which requires EDF to shut older capacity when bringing a new plant online. EDF has now decided not to close the plant until six months before the new Flamanville 3 plant under construction is commissioned in late 2018. A decree is needed to close the plant, and the board has instructed Jean-Bernard Lévy, president and chief executive officer of EDF, to seek the decree no sooner than six months before Flamanville comes online.
Commenting on this decision, Lévy said: "The decision of the Board, taken in application of the law and respecting the company's social interest, enables EDF, fully committed to the energy transition, to have the nuclear fleet necessary to fulfill its obligations to supply its customers. I would like to pay tribute to the work of Fessenheim employees and service providers who operate our industrial equipment safely and with excellent performance. I assure them of the consideration I shall bring for their future in all circumstances."
The government has been forced to accept the board's decision. In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment said: "Announced long ago and without any jobs being eliminated, this closure is part of the objectives of diversification of our electricity mix set by the energy transition law, and will enable EDF to strengthen its commitment in the energy transition."
Fessenheim's two 900-megawatt (MW) reactors were commissioned in 1977, and at its height the station supplied about 3% of the country's power. It has always been a controversial plant due to its age and location, sitting just a mile from the German border and 25 miles from Switzerland. Fessenheim was originally granted a 10-year extension in 2013, but just months later, the government announced its planned closure for 2016. For additional information, see May 16, 2013, article - Oldest French Nuclear Plant Gets 10 More Years and July 24, 2013, article - France to Shut Oldest Nuclear Plant.
. Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
The company's board of directors voted on a number of measures that would see the life of Fessenheim extended until next year. The decision goes against the wishes of French President Francois Hollande, who was elected on promises of reducing the country's reliance on nuclear power and having Fessenheim closed by the end of his term, which falls next month. The French government has committed itself to reducing its reliance on nuclear power from approximately 75% to 50%. For additional information, see October 16, 2014, article - France to Cut Nuclear Reliance to 50%.
France has capped its nuclear generating capacity 63.2 gigawatts (GW), which requires EDF to shut older capacity when bringing a new plant online. EDF has now decided not to close the plant until six months before the new Flamanville 3 plant under construction is commissioned in late 2018. A decree is needed to close the plant, and the board has instructed Jean-Bernard Lévy, president and chief executive officer of EDF, to seek the decree no sooner than six months before Flamanville comes online.
Commenting on this decision, Lévy said: "The decision of the Board, taken in application of the law and respecting the company's social interest, enables EDF, fully committed to the energy transition, to have the nuclear fleet necessary to fulfill its obligations to supply its customers. I would like to pay tribute to the work of Fessenheim employees and service providers who operate our industrial equipment safely and with excellent performance. I assure them of the consideration I shall bring for their future in all circumstances."
The government has been forced to accept the board's decision. In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment said: "Announced long ago and without any jobs being eliminated, this closure is part of the objectives of diversification of our electricity mix set by the energy transition law, and will enable EDF to strengthen its commitment in the energy transition."
Fessenheim's two 900-megawatt (MW) reactors were commissioned in 1977, and at its height the station supplied about 3% of the country's power. It has always been a controversial plant due to its age and location, sitting just a mile from the German border and 25 miles from Switzerland. Fessenheim was originally granted a 10-year extension in 2013, but just months later, the government announced its planned closure for 2016. For additional information, see May 16, 2013, article - Oldest French Nuclear Plant Gets 10 More Years and July 24, 2013, article - France to Shut Oldest Nuclear Plant.
. Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
