France’s state auditor has said that French nuclear company EDF should not make a final investment decision in the UK’s Sizewell C reactor project until it has reduced its exposure to its other British development, Hinkley Point C. The Cour des comptes also said state-owned EDF must ensure that any international projects are profitable, and must not delay the programme of new nuclear projects in France.
This could lead to a more cautious approach from EDF towards six further EPR2 reactors in France, which were announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022. Cour des comptes estimated the bill for these plants to be almost €80bn. The Cour des comptes also criticised the long-delayed Flamanville project in northern France, which recently started providing electricity to the grid, 12 years behind schedule.