France to shut down nuclear reactor on German border in late June

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Wednesday that the Fessenheim nuclear reactor, on the border with Germany, will be shut down at the end of June, with one of its reactors to be closed this weekend.

A statement on Wednesday called the decision “the first phase” of France’s energy strategy set out in 2018 by President Emmanuel Macron, AP reported.

The plan calls for a re-balancing of nuclear-produced energy and electricity derived from renewable sources.

Coal plants are to be closed by 2022 to reduce greenhouse gases, the statement said.

This is the first nuclear complex to be closed under Macron’s plan.

France depends more on nuclear energy than any other country, getting about three-quarters of its electricity from the plants.

Edouard Philippe

Emmanuel Macron

Fessenheim

nuclear reactor

energy strategy

greenhouse gases

nuclear energy