Representatives of 16 European States, as well as the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, discussed the development of the nuclear industry in the perspective of the European energy transition and the reduction of dependence on Russian gas, on Tuesday 16 May in Paris, as part of the framework of the Nuclear Alliance and at the initiative of the French Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
At this formal meeting between countries “supporting” the development of nuclear power in Europe, they signed a joint declaration in which they committed to “preparing a roadmap on how nuclear power will aim to achieve carbon neutrality in the next 30 years”, explained Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
“We now estimate that nuclear power can supply up to 150 GW of electricity to the European Union by 2050 (compared to 100 GW today), which requires 30-45 new high-power reactors, the development of small modular reactors and 450,000 new hires”, she added.
This Nuclear Alliance, which had already met in Stockholm (see EUROPE 13131/7) and in Brussels during the last Energy Council (see EUROPE 13151/33), brings together European countries wishing to rely on nuclear energy or to consider it in their energy mix. It includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and Slovakia.
This time Sweden, which had previously decided to remain neutral, did send a representative, Italy joined the meeting as an ‘observer country’ and the UK was also invited.
In their joint statement, the Alliance member countries called on the EU and international partners “to take into account the contribution of all affordable, reliable, non-fossil and secure energy sources to achieve climate neutrality by 2050”, but also to ensure energy sovereignty and independence from third countries, such as Russia.
They also address the challenges of developing the industrial supply chain and research and development, including the construction of new large and small modular reactors (SMRs) in the EU, but also focus on safety and radioactive waste management.
These countries then insist on training and skills, with a European nuclear industry that plans to create “300,000 new direct, indirect and induced jobs” by 2050.
The European nuclear industry expects to increase its contribution to GDP by an additional €92 billion (1.5-2% of the EU economy) and to generate a €33 billion trade surplus in the EU, “compared to maintaining 100 GW of capacity by 2050, and in particular thanks to a substantial reduction in fossil fuel imports”, the statement says. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)