Cattenom wants two more reactors; Luxembourg is concerned

In January 2023, Bernard Zenner, the former mayor of the French commune of Cattenom, stated that it would be advisable to install two new-generation EPR2 reactors at the local nuclear power station. Shortly afterwards, the French government announced plans to commission six such reactors, with the option to build a further eight. The locations for the first six reactors have already been identified — they will be built in pairs at the Penly nuclear power station in Normandy, Gravelines in the north of the country, and Bugey in the Aisne department. At the same time, the distribution of the additional eight power units remains under discussion. In this regard, the local authorities in the Moselle department have officially put forward Cattenom as a candidate site, with a view to the long-term modernisation of the energy infrastructure and the planned replacement of the power station’s ageing capacity.

The initiative has received strong support from the French business community. Six regional employers’ organisations have sent a joint letter to the Prefect of the Moselle department, the Ministers for Industry and the Economy, and Bernard Fontana, Chief Executive of the energy company EDF. Business leaders view the project as a key factor in the reindustrialisation of France, the strengthening of energy sovereignty and the development of new skills. They estimate that the construction of the reactors will bring long-term economic benefits to the region and create new opportunities for local businesses.

Despite the French side’s ambitious plans, the prospect of expanding the nuclear power station, located just a few kilometres from the border, is meeting with strong opposition in Luxembourg. Socialist MPs Franz Fayot and Mars di Bartolomeo have tabled a parliamentary question, questioning the rationale for building new units given the unstable operation of the existing plant. Currently, only one of the four power units at Cattenom is operational: the second has been shut down due to a water shortage caused by the drought, whilst the other two are undergoing scheduled maintenance.

MPs have called on the Luxembourg government to clarify whether negotiations are underway with the French authorities regarding plans to expand the nuclear power station and extend its operating life. Alongside the politicians, Luxembourg’s anti-nuclear committee has also intervened in the process. The organisation has formally appealed to the Cabinet to reinstate the special Franco-Luxembourg working group, which was set up to monitor nuclear safety following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.