[littlestymaar]

> France is in the process of phasing out 35% of their nuclear fleet

No we aren't. The only plant expected to close soon is Fessenheim, but every others are planned to work for at least twenty more years. EDF just started «le grand carénage»[1] which is a big investment plan to make the plants work 10 more years, up to 60. (Which is in twenty years)

Source: my wife works at Dampierre en Burly's plant, which is one of the oldest running plant in France, and is part of this program (starting next year there).

A law («loi TECV») was voted in this direction a few years ago, stating that 35% of the reactors should be closed by 2025, but none of the four leading political parties in France have any will to respect it (including the current government, which is here to stay until 2022…). This law was 100% communication and nobody really believed it when it was passed.

[1]: https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_car%C3%A9nage (in French only though)

[jhayward]

I'm aware of the refit effort, as well as safety improvements required and under-funded decommissioning costs, which as I understand it requires on the order of 100 billion euros in new financing.

My understanding has been that it (the refit) applies to the remainder of the fleet after drawdown. Has it been funded? Where is EDF obtaining the funds? Isn't EDF itself in need of a bailout from France?

As to the 35% target, this is the first time I've read anyone state categorically that none of the plants will be shut down. It seems strange to have a law passed that everyone agrees to disregard, but maybe that's how things happen.

Can you point us toward anything firm on which to base a belief that no plants other than fessenheim will be closed?

[littlestymaar]

> which as I understand it requires on the order of 100 billion euros in new financing.

Between 50 and 100 billions, yes. Which is between 1 and 2 billions per reactor.

> My understanding has been that it (the refit) applies to the remainder of the fleet after drawdown.

As I told you, even the oldest reactor are planned to be part of the plan,and it even started this year on the second oldest plant (Bugey). The oldest one being Fessenheim, which is the only one that will be closed.

> Has it been funded? Where is EDF obtaining the funds? Isn't EDF itself in need of a bailout from France

EDF has no money issue at the moment (because nobody's is counting the decommissioning, which is a different problem…). They earned 15 billion euros last year, so even if the enhancement plan were to cost 100 billions, it would be paid after 6 years, which is way profitable for something allowing you to run 20 more years.

> It seems strange to have a law passed that everyone agrees to disregard, but maybe that's how things happen.

Unfortunately It happens all the time: evrytime you see a law saying “<something> must be done in 10 years”, it's usually bullshit because the government passing the law won't be in charge at this point, so the next government will just cancel the law…

> Can you point us toward anything firm on which to base a belief that no plants other than fessenheim will be closed?

Do you really think EDF would spend 4 to 8 billions in Bugey if the plant was getting shut down 3 years after the end of the works ?