Macron weighs nuclear option as EDF pushes USD 50 billion renewal

Despite pledging to reduce French nuclear output, presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron may have to reconsider his campaign promise as the state controlled utility pushes a renewal program to expand the lifespan of its reactors.

BY FRANCOIS DE BEAUPUY & HELENE FOUQUET, BLOOMBERG

Published: 27.04.17 at 11:21

French presidential favorite Emmanuel Macron may have to break a campaign pledge over the speed at which France reduces its dependence on nuclear power.

Macron, who topped the first round of voting in Sunday’s presidential election, has endorsed President Francois Hollande’s plan to reduce nuclear output from 72 percent of France’s total electricity generation last year to 50 percent by around 2025. There’s increasing speculation that goal may be unattainable.

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Steinsvik hydroelectric power station, Norway. | Foto: Libor Sojka/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

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