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France set to extend life of nuclear reactors

Energy minister Ségolène Royal says she is ready to raise the limit on existing reactors to 50 years from 40 years.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The French government is willing to support a 10-year extension to the life of the country's nuclear reactors, operated by utility EDF, Energy Minister Ségolène Royal told France 3 television on Sunday, reports Yahoo! News.

Nuclear power provides about 75 percent of France's electricity, but the industry has come under the spotlight since the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan and France has pledged to reduce its reliance on nuclear to 50 percent by increasing renewable energy.

Asked if she was ready to raise the limit on existing reactors to 50 years from 40 years, Royal said: "Yes, I am ready to give this the green light, depending obviously on the opinion of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) .... the French people have for years invested a lot in the nuclear reactors."

Read more of this report from Yahoo! News.