France’s oldest nuclear power plant (NPP) in the town of Fesenheim on the German-Swiss border has ceased operations. The power plant is being shut down because the French government is committed to reducing the country’s dependence on nuclear energy. Environmental activists are happy about the event, but many Fesenheim residents will lose their jobs and may be forced to relocate.
IN SHORT:
- Following the Fukushima NPP accident in 2011. In many places began to abandon nuclear energy.
- In France in 2018. A final decision was made in 2006 to close the country ‘s oldest Fesheim NPP.
- 1977. The second reactor of the Fesenheim NPP, which was launched in 2006, was shut down at midnight on Tuesday.
- Spent fuel will be removed from the plant within three years.
- Another 15 years will be needed to completely dismantle the plant.
- Greenpeace’s French branch welcomes the closure of the NPP.
- In France, the largest trade union condemns this.
- The Fesenheim NPP produced 70% of the energy consumed in the Alsace region.
- The NPP operator promises that people who have lost their jobs will be transferred to other stations.
- The NPP was the largest employer in Fesenheim, with a population of 2,500.
- The mayor criticizes the closure of the NPP, but is optimistic about the future.
- France still has 18 NPPs with 56 nuclear reactors.
- The government is committed to 2035. to close another 12 nuclear reactors by.
In March 2011, a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused an accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Japan. It was the most serious nuclear disaster in the world since the Chernobyl accident in 1986.
Following the accident at the Fukushima NPP, several countries decided to phase out nuclear energy. The then French Socialist president, François Hollande, also announced that the country would reduce its dependence on nuclear energy and would be the first to close the country’s oldest NPP in the city of Fesenheim on the German border.
The oldest nuclear power plant in France has decommissionedUldis Ķezberis
–
–
However, the final decision to close the Fesenheim NPP in 2018 was made by the current President of France, Emanuel Macron.
The first reactor at the Fesenheim NPP, which was launched in 1977, was shut down in February and the second was shut down at midnight yesterday. Spent nuclear fuel will be removed from the plant in the next three years, but another 15 years will be needed to completely dismantle the plant, the AFP news agency reports.
The French branch of the environmental organization Greenpeace called the decommissioning of the NPP a “historic moment” and called on the government to shut down other nuclear reactors in the country.
In contrast, France’s largest trade union, CGT, said on Twitter that the closure of the Fesenheim NPP was an “economic, social and ecological genocide”.
Alen Besere, a representative of the Fesenheim NPP workers’ union, made no secret of the fact that he and his colleagues had hoped until the last minute that the station would continue to operate.
“We are sad and proud at the same time. Proud to be able to work here all these years, to be part of the history of industry. We are sad because closing the station was a political decision, “Besser told France 24.
The Fesenheim NPP generated 70% of the electricity consumed in the Alsace region, but in 2017 it employed more than a thousand people. 294 people will be employed in the export of spent nuclear fuel, but only 60 workers will then take part in the dismantling work.
The NPP operator “EDS” promises that the people who lost their jobs will be transferred to other stations, but this will mean moving away from Fesenheim.
The NPP was the largest employer in Fesenheim, with a population of 2,500, so people are worried about how it will affect the economy of the city and its surroundings.
Mayor Claude Brander criticizes the closure of the NPP, but is optimistic about Fesenheim’s future.
“We are still attractive. Therefore, there is no reason to worry that Fesenheim will be abandoned en masse and become a ghost town, “the mayor told Euronews.
France still has 18 NPPs with 56 nuclear reactors, which produce about 70% of the country’s electricity.
The government is committed to closing 12 more nuclear reactors by 2035 and giving priority to renewable energy.
–
Highlight text and press Ctrl+Enterto send the text to be edited!
Highlight text and press Report a bug buttons to send the text to be edited!
–
–
