Paris, Mar 10 (EFE).- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday strongly defended nuclear power as a pillar of energy independence, arguing that countries must reduce their reliance on hydrocarbons amid growing geopolitical instability.
Speaking at the opening of the Nuclear Energy Summit organized by France and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Macron said the current global situation highlights the risks of heavy dependence on fossil fuels.
“We want greater independence, which is clearly visible in the current geopolitical context. When a country is too dependent on hydrocarbons, it can become vulnerable to pressure and destabilization,” Macron said.
The French president recalled that his government has launched an ambitious investment program in nuclear power and argued that countries producing nuclear energy increase their energy autonomy.
Macron also defended nuclear power as safe and praised the technological advances made since the Fukushima disaster 15 years ago. He said nuclear energy is essential for Europe to remain competitive internationally.
He described nuclear power as “essential” for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and said it should complement the gradual expansion of renewable energy sources, which do not offer the same level of supply control.
Macron called for continued improvements to the world’s roughly 450 nuclear reactors, which currently generate about 10 percent of global electricity.
He also urged investment in new facilities, particularly small modular reactors, which he said could be standardized to improve safety and efficiency.
Public financing will remain crucial for nuclear development, Macron said, but he added that the sector must also become more attractive to private investors.
The French president called for large-scale European projects similar to those launched in sectors such as hydrogen and batteries, while also advocating stronger cross-border energy interconnections.
He described nuclear power as “the foundation for building a European Energy Union” and called for the creation of a free market for the circulation of decarbonized electricity.
International cooperation will also be essential, Macron said, particularly to secure nuclear fuel supply chains and reduce dependence on countries such as Russia, which currently produces about 40% of the world’s uranium enrichment capacity.
Diversifying supply sources, he added, will be key to improving energy security.
Macron also stressed the economic potential of the sector, noting that nuclear energy should strengthen Europe’s industrial value chains and create jobs.
Of the roughly 900,000 people currently employed in the sector across Europe, he said the number could reach 1.4 million in the coming years.
Finally, Macron said the development of nuclear energy must be supported by “free and open science,” which he described as essential for humanity’s progress. EFE
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