France faces EU scrutiny over nuclear aid as Flamanville EPR enters maintenance

The European Commission has opened a formal procedure regarding France's plan for six new EPR2 nuclear reactors. This investigation, initiated under Article 108(2) of the TFEU, focuses on the conditions under which a member state can provide strategic public investment in nuclear energy while maintaining compliance with EU state aid rules.

Simultaneously, the Flamanville EPR reactor is entering a scheduled 350-day maintenance period starting September 26, 2026. This first major maintenance cycle includes approximately 20,000 operations, such as replacing the reactor vessel head.

The Flamanville project has faced significant technical and financial challenges. Since its connection to the grid in late 2024, the reactor has experienced 13 shutdowns. Data indicates that for 52% of its 17,239 operating hours, the plant's electricity injection was negative, meaning it consumed more power than it produced to run its own systems. While EDF initially estimated the cost of Flamanville 3 at 3.3 billion euros, current estimates exclude financing costs, and the French Court of Auditors places the total terminal cost at 23.7 billion euros.