French economy minister awaits return to nuclear energy French economy minister awaits return to nuclear energy

The French Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, predicted that all major industrialized countries would return to nuclear power. “There is no great industrial nation without nuclear energy,” Le Maire said Friday on a visit to the Penly nuclear power station near Dieppe on the Channel coast.

“All the major industrial countries in the world, all the major industrial countries in Europe, including those who have made a different choice, will sooner or later return to nuclear energy,” the minister said with conviction.

Because if countries were faced with the choice of giving up their industry or reviving nuclear power, they would go back to nuclear power again, Le Maire said. “It’s a matter of years, it won’t happen right away, but I’m convinced that a great industrial nation, whoever it is, will return to nuclear power because it’s the precondition for sustaining its industry.”

The French economy minister had previously defended himself against criticism, particularly from Germany, of France’s adherence to nuclear energy. “We should not be ashamed of being a great nuclear nation,” Le Maire stressed to power plant workers. Environmental protection reasons also speak for nuclear power. “The decision for nuclear power is a decision for the climate.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced a “renaissance of French nuclear power” in February. The country plans to build six new nuclear power plants and the construction of another eight plants by 2050 is to be explored. (sda/awp/dpa)