France registered 7,103 reactor-days of nuclear reactor unavailability in 2023, down from over 8,500 the previous year. EDF, the French electric utility company that manages the country’s nuclear fleet, started the revision of its nuclear reactors in 2021, after the identification of stress corrosion cracking in the facilities. The planned or forced power cuts caused by maintenance operations affected all nuclear reactors in France.
Nuclear energy sector in France
Although France is among the global leaders in terms of operable nuclear power capacity, the country is facing a steep decline in domestic nuclear energy production due to the technical anomalies of its nuclear plants. Nuclear power production declined by over 20 percent between 2021 and 2022 and was still below average in 2023.
What does the future hold?
EDF is now inspecting the French nuclear fleet, planning to finish by 2025. As of 2024, half of France's nuclear fleet was over 40 years old, necessitating monitoring and maintenance. Meanwhile, one nuclear reactor is under construction in the country and the government is planning at least six new generation reactors.
Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage
(in reactor-days)
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
WNISR. (September 25, 2024). Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage (in reactor-days) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/
WNISR. "Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage (in reactor-days)." Chart. September 25, 2024. Statista. Accessed March 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/
WNISR. (2024). Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage (in reactor-days). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/
WNISR. "Total Unavailability at Nuclear Reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by Type of Outage (in Reactor-days)." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/
WNISR, Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage (in reactor-days) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/ (last visited March 10, 2025)
Total unavailability at nuclear reactors in France from 2019 to 2023, by type of outage (in reactor-days) [Graph], WNISR, September 25, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1342464/total-unavailability-of-nuclear-reactors-by-type-france/
