France wants to open up nuclear financing to private investors

Economy Minister Roland Lescure wants to open up nuclear financing to private investors, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. France could follow the British example, where funds such as Apollo and Amber Infrastructure are financing the construction of nuclear power plants. EDF's debt stands at €54 billion and the cost of building the new EPR2 reactors could reach €75 billion, according to the Court of Auditors. While the initial EPR2 reactors are to be financed by the State and the Caisse des Dépôts, private investors could be invited to participate in financing the rest of the programme.