It is therefore not directly to global warming

DAS war's! "It didn't take 24 hours to Angela Merkel to draw the lessons from Fukushima. "It is finished!", she said its teams on March 12, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that resulted in the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. A few months after having decided to extend the life of German nuclear power plants, the Chancellor made an about-face that out its French neighbours. She found that the risk associated with nuclear power had suddenly become unacceptable. Even if there is no doubt a part of political opportunism and precipitation in its choice, it would be wrong for the make a mockery. More than one title, it raises very serious questions to the energy of the France policy and its industry players.

Doctor of quantum chemistry, the German Chancellor is confidence in statistics. From this point of view, the disaster of Fukushima considerably sounding boards, as recognized by Jacques Repussard, Director of the Institute of radiation protection and nuclear safety. "World Park, 14,000 years-reactors are already past and statistics show is 0.0002 serious accident per year, or 20 times more than expected according to probabilistic studies, recently declared to the"world"this eminent specialist..." Can ask the question: the man is able to master this technology to divide at least twice the risk of accident "Japan, third global economy recognized for its technological know-how is not reached. Germany, fourth largest economy of the globe, the industry refers prefers to give up and focus in priority on renewable energy. His decision is moral, but also economic.

Through the stress tests that it will impose its plants and the return of experience of the disaster in Fukushima, as after the Three Mile Island in 1979, the France think power sent to control the risk. And to place it as the moral field: Unlike coal or gas, which are necessary to compensate the intermittent nature of wind or solar, nuclear energy emits no or very little CO2. It is therefore not directly to global warming. Releases or nuclear waste against greenhouse gases, arbitration is delicate. But energies will also have to compete in terms of competitiveness.

Yesterday, Eric Besson, the Minister of energy, provided that, if the France to get out of nuclear power, it cost it "expensive, very expensive." Judging by forecasts that dominate the German debate, he is right. Estimates on the cost of nuclear power output ranging from 30 to... EUR 200 billion. The German Energy Agency provides an increase of 20 for household electricity bills in the next few years and the German Industry Federation, BDI, redoubt of the order of 30 increases.

But say that out of the nuclear is expensive does not mean that nuclear power is cheap. In reality, the atomic energy would even rather tend to be more expensive. Late 2008, EDF was of the view that the extension of the life of forty to sixty years of its 58 reactors would cost him EUR 400 million per unit, i.e. EUR 23 billion for the whole of the Park. Two years later, the public electrician was 35 billion overall, and used this argument to the public authorities to apply provisions resulting in increases in residential rates of 28 to 37 in five years - or competitive advantage rates current French, to undercut the rest of Europe. That was before Fukushima. Since then, as he slipped it in may at a dinner with former students of the X, his boss, Henri Proglio, believe that EDF will invest 40 to 50 billion in the extension of the lifetime of the reactors. That's not counting investments in networks and renewable energy...

The issue of competitiveness arises also, of course, for new nuclear power. Here too, the figures vary. For his project of EPR at Flamanville, EDF was originally on a budget of EUR 3.3 billion. Taking into account the delays, it brought him late 2008 to 4 billion for update to 5 billion last summer. In Finland, the EPR by Areva has already cost nearly double the originally announced cost of $ 3 billion. Progress observed on the site of Taishan, the group chaired by Anne Lauvergeon view on the other hand to hold this type of budget in China. But the new standards imposed by Fukushima again could inflate the invoice.

The French sector is serene. It noted with relief that China, Britain, or the Czech Republic have not questioned their nuclear program. Nevertheless, these countries announced a time of reflection before the machine. But the France is only in competition with the Russia, the United States or the Korea, who won late 2009 historic contract in Abu Dhabi. This time, its major industry will face a new rival of weight: the entire Germany. Because is no mistake: in 2002, the output of nuclear decided by Government Schröder was assumed, but did not have vocation to be converted to other countries. This time, for the accession of the German industry, it is a new energy model that intends to export Angela Merkel. For Chancellor, nuclear power output is in effect of the "huge opportunities for future generations." Siemens, Bosch and many others, can be sure, are willing to take up the challenge.