France

Nuclear power situation

• Nuclear power plants: Status and operations
• Supply of nuclear power plants
• Operation of nuclear power plants
• Fuel cycle and waste management
• Research and development activities
• International co-operation and initiatives
• Human resources development
• Historical development and current nuclear power organisational structure

National laws and regulations

• Safety authority and the licensing process
• Main national laws and the regulations governing nuclear power

Current issues and developments

• Energy policy
• Privatisation and deregulation
• Related links
• Related NEA publications

Nuclear power situation

	Number of nuclear units connected to the grid	Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh)	Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply
France	59	428.7	78.1
OECD Europe	150	929.3	27.3
OECD TOTAL	346 (out of 437 worldwide)	2278.1	23.1

Source: Nuclear Energy Data 2007. The complete table for all OECD member countries is also available.

Nuclear Power Plants: Status and operations

The share of nuclear power in French electricity supply has reached its technical and economic maximum, amounting to about 63 000 MWe. It consists of 59 units, 58 being pressurised water reactors (34 at 900 MWe, 20 at 1 300 MWe, and four in the 1 450's) that were constructed by the French manufacturer FRAMATOME, and the 230 MWe fast breeder reactor, Phenix.

Nuclear plants accounted for 401 TWh in 2001 (over 75% of total electricity production), putting France as the world's second largest nuclear power producer. Table 1 lists the status of the power plants as of year-end 2001. Nuclear power generation represents about one-third of total primary energy supply and over 80% of the domestic energy production, making EDF by far the number one nuclear operator and the largest electricity producer in the world.

Table 1. Status of nuclear power plants

Station	Type	Net capacity	Operator	Status	Reactor supplier	Construction date	Criticality date	Grid date	Commercial date	Shutdown date
BELLEVILLE-1	PWR	1310	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-May-80	09-Sep-87	14-Oct-87	01-Jun-88
BELLEVILLE-2	PWR	1310	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Aug-80	25-May-88	06-Jul-88	01-Jan-89
BLAYAIS-1	PWR	910	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Jan-77	20-May-81	12-Jun-81	01-Dec-81
BLAYAIS-2	PWR	910	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Jan-77	28-Jun-82	17-Jul-82	01-Feb-83
BLAYAIS-3	PWR	910	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Apr-78	29-Jul-83	17-Aug-83	14-Nov-83
BLAYAIS-4	PWR	910	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Apr-78	01-May-83	16-May-83	01-Oct-83
BUGEY-2	PWR	910	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Nov-72	20-Apr-78	10-May-78	01-Mar-79
BUGEY-3	PWR	880	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Sep-73	31-Aug-78	21-Sep-78	01-Mar-79
BUGEY-4	PWR	880	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Jun-74	17-Feb-79	08-Mar-79	01-Jul-79
BUGEY-5	PWR	900	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Jul-74	15-Jul-79	31-Jul-79	03-Jan-80
CATTENOM-1	PWR	1300	EDF	Operational	FRAM	29-Oct-79	24-Oct-86	13-Nov-86	01-Apr-87
CATTENOM-2	PWR	1300	EDF	Operational	FRAM	28-Jul-80	07-Aug-87	17-Sep-87	01-Feb-88
CATTENOM-3	PWR	1300	EDF	Operational	FRAM	15-Jun-82	16-Feb-90	06-Jul-90	01-Feb-91
CATTENOM-4	PWR	1300	EDF	Operational	FRAM	28-Sep-83	04-May-91	27-May-91	01-Jan-92
CHINON-B-1	PWR	920	EDF	Operational	FRAM	01-Mar-77	28-Oct-82	30-Nov-82	01-Feb-84