All this while having no own relevant energy reserves whatsoever
world-nuclear.org begs to differ:
In 2022 France's reactor fleet produced 282 TWh... Output rose in 2023 to 320 TWh as reactors returned to service following inspections and repairs. EDF estimates output of 315-345 TWh for 2024, and 335-365 TWh in both 2025 and 2026. ... France [also] announced plans to build six new reactors and to consider building a further eight. source
It goes in the right direction but is only reversing bad policies from the last two decades. France used to be energy independent with producing 90% of its energy in its nuclear plants, that proportion had fallen to 60% and after the sanctions on Russian gas bit them hard they are trying to come back to the place they were before, minus the cheap uranium from Niger
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So why do they need to import that much? And the uranium grows in Macrons garden? Please...
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Willingness to manufacture is also a resource
Most countries shied away from nuclear energy production for far too long, and the tide is only barely beginning to shift back in a good direction. France is leading the way in this department, not just by ramping up nuclear energy production but also by exporting the resulting energy to less willing european nations
Also, although France does not currently mine for uranium on its mainland, there are significant deposits of it in France so your sarcastic quip about uranium growing in Macron's garden is pretty much accurate. source
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