Summary

France’s Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor, its most powerful at 1,600 MW, was connected to the grid on December 21 after 17 years of construction plagued by delays and budget overruns.

The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), designed to boost nuclear energy post-Chernobyl, is 12 years behind schedule and cost €13.2 billion, quadruple initial estimates.

President Macron hailed the launch as a key step for low-carbon energy and energy security.

Nuclear power, which supplies 60% of France’s electricity, is central to Macron’s plan for a “nuclear renaissance.”

  • DavidDoesLemmy
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    12 hours ago

    Are you suggesting that delays don’t impact the cost? Or that the impact of those delays doesn’t account for the 4x budget overrun?

    I think it’s only one factor in the budget overrun, but still worth mentioning.

    • Akasazh@feddit.nl
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      10 hours ago

      I’m not saying that. But saying that the only cause the project went over budget was over those protests is equally ridiculous, no?