In line with a campaign promise by President Francois Hollande in 2012, the French parliament has voted to reduce the share of nuclear energy in electricity generation to 50 percent from the current level of 75 percent and has also adopted a programme to drastically reduce energy consumption before 2050, parliamentary sources said Friday.
A bill adopted by the National Assembly fully adheres to Hollande's commitment as he sought election, two and a half years ago, when he said he would close a number of nuclear power plants, beginning with the ageing Fessenheim site on the eastern border with Germany. Fessenheim was commissioned in 1978 and could be closed as early as 2017.
France has a total of 59 nuclear plants that generate upwards of 75 percent of the country's electricity needs and indeed exports grid power.
The new legislation also authorises a programme to curb energy use and reduce greenhouse gases.
Energy consumption is to be cut by 50 percent by 2050 and by 20 percent by 2030, while a boost is to be given to CO2 emissions control and reduction and to renewable energy, while oil and fossil fuels consumption is to be cut by 30 percent by 2030.
Some observers, particularly among opposition parties, have questioned the viability of a plan that cuts nuclear power and other sources of energy at the same time.