Closure of Superphoenix

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In his general policy statement to the National Assembly in June 1997, France's new Prime Minister announced the decision to close the Superphoenix fast breeder reactor, drawing protests from trade unions.

For many years the Superphoenix fast breeder reactor has played a major role in French energy policy. The prototype of the thermal neutron reactor was designed during the 1970s to meet estimated greater demand for electricity, at a time when the French authorities were fearful of an increase in the price of uranium, or even of shortages. Numerous technical failures, never concerning the reactor core, affected the functioning of the plant and fueled the firm opposition to this type of nuclear reactor from the ecological movement. At the same time, certain experts were questioning the high cost of producing electricity by this method. In 1996, the decision was taken to suspend electricity production and to use Superphoenix as a research laboratory to study the possibility of transforming it into a nuclear waste disposal site. The Socialist Party announced the plant's closure in its election manifesto, and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin confirmed this decision in his address to the National Assembly on the 19 June 1997.

The CGT (Confédération générale du travail) and CGT-FO (Confédération générale du travail - Force ouvrière)trade union confederations have protested vigourously against this decision. As far as the CGT is concerned, "over and above the issue of Superphoenix, it is the whole energy output of our country, the treatment of nuclear waste and the upgrading of the power station network due in 2010 (...) which are at risk". For its part, the CFDT (Confédération française démocratique du travail) is against any sudden closure "which would prove more costly for the state than a structured closure plan" and is in favour of "gradual transition". All union organisations are concerned about the consequences for the area in terms of direct and related employment. Europeans against Superphoenix, an organisation grouping in excess of 250 French, Swiss and Italian associations is also worried by this social aspect and is demanding the creation of an "economic and social committee to consider the provision of funds for the dismantling of the power station, the placement of the 650 workers elsewhere, and also the rehabilitation of the area".