France and Japan agree to develop nuclear reactors and independence from Russian uranium
In Italy, approval from Brussels is often awaited before doing anything. Other European countries, on the other hand, move independently. France and Japan signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in Paris, the French ministry said on Wednesday.
The joint statement pledges to deepen and accelerate ties in research and development of next-generation nuclear power, such as sodium-cooled fast reactors.
Work will continue on extending the safe life of existing reactors, decommissioning nuclear facilities, including Japan's Fukushima Dai'ichi reactor, developing civilian nuclear capacity in affected countries, and promoting the recycling of used nuclear fuel for minimize the need for uranium.
French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher met with Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japanese Minister of Trade, Economy and Industry, and they discussed accelerating technical cooperation on the nuclear fuel cycle and working to build a supply chain involving only countries that share “common values” – a veiled reference to Russia's preponderant role in the sector.
The announcement followed talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting on energy and climate in Sapporo last month, where ministers discussed cooperation to revive Japan's nuclear energy as a way to meet growing energy demand without an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
“The new flags of this bilateral Franco-Japanese partnership, the Italian Tricolor and the Rising Sun Hinomaru, wave strongly towards decarbonization and a stable energy supply,” Nishimura said in a statement.
Japan's Sankei newspaper reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has earmarked about 46 billion yen ($337 million) for three years starting in April 2024 to help develop sodium-cooled fast reactors. The joint statement came a day after a Paris appeals court allowed the French government to proceed with its acquisition of nuclear giant EDF as part of its long-term plan to reinvigorate the nuclear sector and build up to 14 new reactors. by 2050.
France also signed a bilateral deal with Britain this year that emphasizes nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source that could reduce dependence on suppliers like Russia. At this point, Paris seems to be at the center of the European nuclear industry, especially after Germany excluded itself from the game by closing its last plants.
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The article France and Japan agree to develop nuclear reactors and independence from Russian uranium comes from Scenari Economics .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/francia-e-giappone-si-accordano-per-lo-sviluppo-di-reattori-nucleari-e-lindipendenza-dalluranio-russo/ on Thu, 04 May 2023 07:00:51 +0000.