Nuclear power in France

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In France, as of 2002, EDF - the country's main electricity generation and distribution company - produces about 78% of its electricity with 58 nuclear power plants (making it the leading world country in its usage of nuclear power).

In 2006, whereas the French Government has asked Électricité de France, main electricity generator and distributor in France, to build a new nuclear reactor, EPR (European Pressurized Reactor), in Flamanville, Manche (Normandy).

[edit] Public opinion

Some groups such as ecologists (the Green party, the Sortir du nucléaire network, Greenpeace, anarchist groups...) are opposed to the use of nuclear energy. However, all other political parties, from the French Communist Party (PCF) to the conservative parties, support it.

Some ecologists have pointed out what they perceive as disproportionate means provided for nuclear energy compared to that for renewable energy.

The creation of the Superphénix nuclear power station in the 1970s led to anti-nuclear demonstrations - and even a rocket ecoterrorist attack. In June 1997, one of the first actions of socialist Lionel Jospin on becoming Prime Minister was to announce the closure of the plant "because of its excessive costs", in accordance to electoral deals with the Green party Les Verts.