The Nuclear Exception

France's nuclear program stands as perhaps the most audacious infrastructure project in modern history. Following the 1973 oil crisis, France embarked on the "Messmer Plan," constructing 56 nuclear reactors in just 15 years. Today, nuclear power provides 70% of electricity generation, making France the world's most nuclear-dependent major economy.

Building the Nuclear Fleet

The scale of nuclear construction defies comprehension: - 58 reactors built between 1970 and 2000 - Standardized designs enabling economies of scale - Total investment exceeding €100 billion (in today's euros) - Creation of entire industrial ecosystems around nuclear technology - Development of fuel cycle capabilities from uranium processing to waste management

This achievement required not just financial resources but societal consensus. Unlike many countries where nuclear power sparked fierce opposition, France achieved broad acceptance through: - Technocratic decision-making bypassing lengthy debates - Strong state capacity to plan and execute - Public trust in engineering expertise - Economic benefits distributed across reactor-hosting regions - Effective safety record building confidence

Pierre Martineau, whom we met in the previous chapter as a nuclear welder, witnessed this transformation:

"In the 1970s and 80s, we were building constantly. Every few months, a new reactor project started. The whole country mobilized—engineers, welders, concrete workers. We knew we were building France's energy independence."

Nuclear Operations Today

Operating the nuclear fleet requires extraordinary coordination:

EDF's Central Role: Électricité de France operates all French reactors, unusual globally where multiple utilities typically share nuclear assets. This monopoly enables: - Standardized operations and maintenance procedures - Shared learning across the fleet - Coordinated refueling schedules - Unified safety culture

The Human Infrastructure: 220,000 people work in the nuclear sector: - 50,000 direct EDF employees - 170,000 in supply chain and services - Specialized training programs maintaining expertise - Regular rotation between plants spreading best practices

Economic Impacts: Nuclear power shapes France's economy profoundly: - Electricity prices 40% below EU average - Energy-intensive industries locate in France - Electricity exports earning €3 billion annually - Reduced fossil fuel imports improving trade balance

Sylvie Leclerc, the control room engineer, explains daily realities:

"People imagine nuclear plants as automated, but human expertise remains central. We monitor thousands of parameters, make constant adjustments, coordinate with the grid operator. During refueling outages, 1,000 additional workers arrive for maintenance. It's like performing surgery on an industrial scale."

Nuclear Challenges and Future

Despite past success, nuclear power faces mounting challenges:

Aging Fleet: With average reactor age exceeding 35 years: - €50 billion "Grand Carénage" program extending reactor lifespans - Complex decisions on reactor closures versus life extensions - Skills transfer as experienced workers retire - Regulatory requirements increasing with age

New Build Struggles: The Flamanville EPR reactor symbolizes difficulties: - Original budget: €3.3 billion; current cost: €19 billion - Original timeline: 2012 completion; actual: 2024 (projected) - Technical challenges with first-of-kind design - Loss of construction expertise after two-decade hiatus

Waste Management: Accumulated spent fuel poses long-term challenges: - 1,650 tons of spent fuel produced annually - Deep geological repository planned in Meuse/Haute-Marne - Local opposition to waste facilities - Intergenerational equity questions

Economic Pressures: Market conditions challenge nuclear economics: - Renewable energy costs falling below nuclear - Electricity market prices often below nuclear generation costs - Massive capital requirements for new builds - Political uncertainty affecting investment decisions

Nuclear Renaissance?

Recent events revive nuclear interest: - Energy security concerns following Ukraine crisis - Climate commitments requiring low-carbon baseload - Macron announcing six new EPR reactors - Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development

Yet questions remain whether France can recapture nuclear construction capabilities after decades of atrophy.