How Does Public Support for Dukovany Differ from That for Six EPR2 Reactors? Commission Publishes Details of France’s Plan

France has notified the European Commission of support for the construction of six new EPR2 nuclear reactors. In several respects, the support structure resembles the Czech model for new units at Dukovany: a concessional loan, a 40-year contract for difference and protection against selected risks. The differences lie primarily in the extent of the investment risk borne by the investor. In this respect, the French model appears riskier for the investor. As with the Czech notification, this is an initial step in the overall procedure, and the support scheme will be subject to further negotiations.

At the end of March, the European Commission launched a formal investigation into the French support model for the construction of six new nuclear units. These are EPR2 reactors to be built by EDF at the Penly, Gravelines and Bugey sites. The project’s total installed capacity is expected to reach nearly 10 GW, with the first units due to enter operation from 2038.