Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 25, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe EU’s state aid review of France’s funding scheme for six new nuclear reactors is expected to proceed rapidly without holding up the projects. A decision by end‑March is anticipated, supporting France’s timeline for a final investment decision later in 2026.
By Forrest Crellin
PARIS, March 25 (Reuters) - A European Union investigation into France's state aid funding scheme for the construction of six nuclear reactors is expected to progress quickly and will not delay the projects, a French energy ministry official said on Wednesday.
The new reactors are expected to cost tens of billions of euros and are central to France's plan to renew its ageing nuclear fleet. They would add about 10 gigawatts of capacity, with the first reactor due to be operating in 2038.
The new plants would replace old ones and secure future energy supplies to cover rising demand over the next decade, driven in part by the energy needs of data centres.
The first step in the investigation into France's state aid package is expected by the end of March with a European Commission declaration, the official said.
The process is expected to go quickly in part because it follows previously approved models like one used to finance the development of two nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, the official said.
"We are confident that we are still on schedule," the official said.
The next step for operator EDF is to make a final investment decision, expected in the second half of the year.
Brussels is concerned that the six new power plants would further entrench state-owned and dominant energy player EDF's market share. The company already holds more than 75% of France's net electricity production.
An in-depth EU investigation would also enable the Commission to build an ironclad case in the event that Austria's government - which opposes nuclear power - launches a legal challenge against its approval of the deal, which some EU officials deem likely, a source told Reuters on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Inti Landauro, Gianluca Lo Nostro and Hugh Lawson)
The EU is investigating France's state aid funding for the construction of six new nuclear reactors.
According to a French energy official, the review is expected to progress quickly and will not delay the projects.
The six new nuclear reactors are expected to add about 10 gigawatts of capacity.
The first reactor is expected to be operating in 2038.
The EU is concerned that the new reactors will further entrench state-owned EDF's dominant market share.
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