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Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Nuclear France. Power at any Price? Report on French Nuclear Industry

Auteur	FOE
Datum	oktober 1986
Classificatie	2.02.0.00/02 (FRANKRIJK - ALGEMEEN)
Voorkant

NUCLEAR FRANCE: POWER AT ANY PRICE?

Over the last 75 years 6 France has taken unparalleled steps towards complete 
dependence on nuclear power for its electricity supply. This has led to an enormous 
international debt problem and a large overcapacity of generating plant. Some of the 
faults of the predominant French reactors type, the PWR, have major implications 
for safety, and one accident, at Bugey, is rated on a par with Three Mile Island in 
seriousness. Military considerations have played a major part in the nuclear 
programme, especially in the Super Phenix fast breeder reactor project.

The French Nuclear Power programme is held up by nuclear proponents, in the UK 
and elsewhere, as a model of efficiency and cost effectiveness, which we would do 
well to follow. The real picture is rather different. This report looks at three main 
aspects of the French nuclear programme: economies, safety, and the military 
connection, and points out some reasons for the unique French devotion to nuclear 
power - and the price that they are paying for it.

The French achievement is certainly remarkable in its own terms: In 1973, France 
obtained 40% of its electricity from oil, and the rest from hydro, coal, and a small 
percentage of nuclear. In 1985, France obtained 59% of its electricity from nuclear, 
21% from hydro, and 20% from fossil fuels, of which virtually none was oil.

By 1990, 74-80% of French electricity supplies will be nuclear.

This remarkable transition, unmatched by any ether country, is due to a quite 
deliberate policy of "tout electrique, tout nucleaire", which originated in the late 
1960's before the 1973 oil crisis, and is rooted in the centralised and closed 
decision-making processes of the French state. In France there is a uniquely strong 
partnership between state and industry, which acts to minimise public debate or 
dissent. For industry, nuclear power, and the Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) in 
particular was a unique chance to establish French predominance in a new world 
market. For the state, the motivation was independence:- in defence, an independent 
nuclear strike force; and in energy, independence from foreign imports, particularly 
of oil (1).

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