France president Emmanuel Macron unveils plan to reduce reliance on nuclear energy
French president will delay meeting the nuclear energy cap goal set by predecessor, Francois Hollande, by 10 years
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.French President Emmanuel Macron has said the country will move more slowly than promised to cap the amount of energy it derives from nuclear energy.
Amid daily protests about high energy prices, Mr Macron said France will shut down 14 nuclear reactors by 2035 out of 58 now in order.
He said France would cap the amount of electricity it derives from nuclear plants at 50 per cent by 2035, which is a delay compared with the goal of 2025 set by his predecessor Francois Hollande.
France depends more on nuclear energy than any other country, getting about three-quarters of its electricity from its 19 nuclear plants.
The French leader promised to develop renewable energy instead, saying his priority is weaning France's economy from fuel that contributes to global warming.
Mr Macron also said the government will find a way to delay tax increases on fuel during periods when world oil prices are rising.
The move aims to tackle the situation that has led to protests in recent days, some of which have become violent and even marred the famed Champs-Elysees avenue in central Paris.
In an attempt to calm the protesters, Mr Macron proposed a three-month consultation with associations and activist groups, including the so-called "yellow jackets" who have led the recent protests, about how best to handle the rising energy costs.
AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments