The ecological transition law provides the elimination of 12 reactors in France out of the 56 in the country. And even if the law also provides for a drop in the proportion of electricity from nuclear power, it will be necessary to partly replace these conventional reactors.
Six new generation reactors on three sites
The six Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR 2) type reactors will be installed by two on three sites. EDF is responsible for offering these three sites to the State. The electrician has therefore already chosen the sites of Gravelines in the North and Penly in Seine-Maritime. He must now choose the third site between two sectors both located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Bugey in the Ain and Tricastin in the Drôme.
The EPR 2 is a new generation reactor that uses less fuel and produces less waste for the same amount of electricity. The construction cost of these six reactors is estimated by EDF at 46 billion euros.
Elected officials of the Drôme claim the EPR 2
The president of the departmental council of Drôme or the mayor of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux are among the elected officials who campaign for the obtaining of the pair of EPR 2 in Tricastin. The stakes are high since the Tricastin nuclear power plant currently employs 2,000 people. To this must be added 1000 people who work there on an ad hoc basis and 1000 induced jobs. 4000 jobs in total. This is considerable in a catchment area where the unemployment rate is high. However, the removal of 12 reactors could impact the EDF Tricastin site with the eventual closure of two out of four reactors.
EDF engineers are currently on site to study in depth the feasibility of the project on the Tricastin site.. EDF will render its decision next spring and will indicate to the State whether this pair of EPR 2 should be installed in Tricastin or in Bugey.
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