French Socialists pledge not to boost nuclear power
Date: 25-Feb-02
Country: FRANCE
"Nuclear production capacity will not be increased: all efforts will be on developing working installed capacity using alternative (gas, clean coal) and renewable energies (wind, hydraulic, biomass)," the Socialists said in a statement.
Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin announced on Wednesday he would challenge incumbent Jacques Chirac for the French presidency in elections in April. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for June.
Jospin has shared power for five years with the conservative Chirac, who has spoken out in favour of continued nuclear power.
France has the highest concentration of nuclear power generation, with more than 75 percent of France's electricity output arising from fission.
About 18 percent of electricity generated is exported, making France the world's top power exporter.
Industry Secretary Christian Pierret, a Socialist, said a report to parliament last month that France should boost investment in renewable energy including wind power and curb energy demand to prevent shortfalls over the next nine years.
In a statement with the report, the ministry made no mention of nuclear power, which s seen as a politically sensitive topic given the presence of the environmentalist Greens party in Jospin's centre-left government.
