The elected representatives of the Ain wish to install two EPRs in Bugey. The Sortir du nucléaire network denounces an anti-democratic manoeuvre.
Christmas is coming. The elected representatives of the Ain department and those of the community of communes of the Plaine de l’Ain are preparing a nice gift for the inhabitants of their territory. Indeed, they have just asked Santa Claus to bring them two EPR (Evolutionary Power Reactor) nuclear reactors to be installed on the agricultural land adjacent to the Bugey nuclear site.
The association Sortir Du Nucléaire Bugey denounces in a press release the two wishes taken by these two communities in a total denial of democracy.
In China
“Indeed, these wishes presented on the sly and dictated by EDF have not been the subject of any meaningful consultation or debate. Many people in these territories are not in favour of pursuing nuclear energy and these elected representatives have only had EDF’s arguments without listening to those of anti-nuclear and environmental associations.
It should be recalled that only two EPR reactors in China have recently started operating worldwide, with construction delays and additional costs.
The EPR reactor under construction in Finland since 2005 is still not operating and is more than 10 years behind schedule. The one under construction in France in Flamanville is in the same situation. It was to cost €3.3 billion and be commissioned in 2012. To date its cost is 12.4 billion euros and it will not be put into service until 2022.
The other two EPR reactors under construction at Hinkley Point in England are also falling behind and seeing their costs start to rise. As for the new EPR, known as EPR 2, which is the subject of the wishes, it is still only at the study stage.
Financial abyss
These EPR reactors are not profitable in the face of renewable energies, but our government is preparing the demerger of EDF with the total nationalisation of the nuclear sector and the privatisation of all the other profitable sectors (RTE, ENEDIS, EDF Renouvelables, etc.). Thus nuclear energy will no longer be subject to the laws of the market and this financial abyss will be paid by the French taxpayers.
The elected representatives of the Department of Ain and the community of municipalities of the Plaine de l’Ain choose an energy from the past for supposedly securing the future of the department, while the future is in renewable energies, the only ones to fight effectively against global warming.
The association Sortir Du Nucléaire Bugey calls on the inhabitants of the department to mobilize to say no to these EPR reactors and to no longer give their voice to those elected officials who are not inclined to democracy. »