Asianometry That Time France Went "All Nuclear"
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May 4, 2025 In the 1970s, France launched an ambitious nuclear energy initiative known as the Messmer Plan, aiming to drastically reduce oil dependency. The program evolved from historical opposition to a nuclear powerhouse, growing from experimental reactors to 58 operational ones. The podcast dives into the conflicts within nuclear development, detailing the rivalry between France's Atomic Energy Commission and EDF. It also examines the economic and political challenges that arose as France sought energy independence, highlighting the complexities behind its nuclear revolution.
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France's Nuclear Energy Shift
- The 1974 Mesmer Plan pushed France to shift from 8% to over 70% nuclear electricity by 1985.
- Nuclear energy helped France drastically reduce dependency on imported oil after the 1973 crisis.
CEA's Dual Nuclear Ambitions
- The French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) originated to lead nuclear research and develop civil and military nuclear capabilities.
- Early communist affiliations within CEA created tensions during the arms race with the Soviet Union.
France's First Reactor Design
- France chose natural uranium, graphite moderator, and carbon dioxide coolant for its first gas graphite reactors.
- This design allowed them to produce weapons-grade plutonium while leveraging available materials.