The French government agreed to provide EDF with a subsidised loan.
The production of these components is set to begin in 2027, with deliveries scheduled to continue through 2038. The contract follows 18 months of engineering studies, though Fives Nordon has not disclosed the financial details of the agreement.
France is focused on strengthening its nuclear energy infrastructure. President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized extending the operational life of existing nuclear facilities and constructing at least six new reactors to achieve a capacity of 10 gigawatts in the coming years. In early 2025, the French government committed to providing EDF with a subsidized loan to cover at least half of the estimated €52 billion construction costs for these reactors, based on 2022 projections. An updated budget is expected by the end of 2025, pending legislative approval under France’s multi-annual energy planning law.
The government aims to finalize the necessary decree before autumn 2025, despite challenges in securing approval from a divided parliament focused on reducing the national budget by €40 billion ($46.90 billion).
In June 2025, France’s nuclear regulator, ASNR, identified potential stress corrosion issues in the Civaux 2 reactor, prompting further inspections. This follows a similar issue in 2022, when stress corrosion cracks in the same reactor caused a significant reduction in nuclear output, leading to a 34-year low in production and elevated power prices.
The contract with Fives Nordon supports France’s broader strategy to enhance its nuclear energy capabilities, contributing to energy security and sustainability goals. The project underscores the ongoing collaboration between EDF and specialized engineering firms to meet the technical demands of new reactor construction.
