France won't abandon nuclear power, but will enhance nuclear safety management

France won't abandon nuclear power, but will improve nuclear safety management, government officials stated Tuesday.

Eric Besson, minister of Business, Energy and Digital Economy, stated in an interview with the French daily La Liberation that the halt of nuclear power will enhance consumption of traditional energy resources like coal and natural gas.

This will cause an improve in greenhouse gas emissions, and raise the amounts and costs of imported nuclear power, Besson said.

The minister said France is not isolated in its stance, as countries like the United States, some emerging countries, and even Japan right after its latest massive nuclear accident, also chose to continue using nuclear energy.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stated Germany's choice to close its nuclear plants before 2022 will not influence France's strategy to make use of nuclear energy, adding that his country will continue to cooperate with Germany inside the energy field.

Valero stated nuclear energy is important to control energy expenditures when energy demand is continuously growing.

The spokesman emphasized nuclear safety will probably be the priority for developing nuclear energy, and stated this was what French President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed at the newest Group of Eight summit held in Deauville, France.

Countries inside the European Union have agreed to carry out nuclear plant safety tests within the next months.

Posted in: but will enhance nuclear safety management,France won't abandon nuclear power