Peaceful uses

Nuclear energy and other nuclear applications in brief

Nuclear technology can make a vital contribution to satisfying human needs and sustainable development in the areas of energy, health, industry, agriculture, access to water and environmental protection. The international community must strive to share the benefits of civilian uses of nuclear energy, under optimal conditions for security, safety and non-proliferation, while respecting the environment.

Electricity production

There are currently 440 nuclear reactors in operation around the world, which were providing 10% of global energy production in 2023.

Nuclear energy is an essential component of the French electricity system (71 % of its electricity production is nuclear-based). The aim of the French policy in this area is to enable and promote the development of nuclear energy, in France and abroad, complying with the most demanding requirements in the area of safety, security, transparency and waste management, with a view to energy security, the fight against climate change and energy competitiveness.

With a total of 57 reactors across 19 sites, an integrated model, solid feedback and a process of continuous improvement, France is a world leader for the share of nuclear energy in its electricity production and has unique nuclear knowledge from which many countries benefit:

design and construction of advanced reactors which comply with the highest safety and security standards, throughout the life cycle of the facility, built around a series of different reactors, with the EPR programme as a reference (1,650 MWe) and the ATMEA1 reactor (1,100 MWe).
safe and high-performance long-term use of reactors,
services provided to plants in operation, including maintenance, managing shutdowns, modernizing operations and improving security,
expertise of the entire fuel cycle and related services – from uranium extraction to recycling, dismantling/sanitation of facilities to waste storage – contributing to long-term secure storage and safe management of materials.

Civaux nuclear power plant. Credits: Laurent Chamussy

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Non-energy nuclear applications

Nuclear power also has an essential role to play outside the energy sector. Non-energy applications provide an essential contribution to the socio-economic development of the poorest countries and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. They have proven to be very useful, particularly in the following fields:

human health: prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses (cancer, cardiovascular diseases);
agriculture and food security: improving farming techniques, preserving fresh foods, nutrition;
environmental protection: protection of the marine environment (observing the marine environment, research on ocean acidification, the spread of plastic pollution, etc.);
industrial applications: radio-processing (an alternative to chemical transformations during industrial production and processing which helps to reduce the danger of industrial effluents), non-destructive tests via radiography, preserving cultural heritage.

Support for responsible development of nuclear energy

France is fully committed to developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which is a source of energy that is sustainable and free of CO₂ emissions. Amid growing energy needs worldwide, and particularly in developing countries, France is convinced that nuclear energy can make a vital contribution to satisfying basic human needs and to sustainable development. However, implementing a nuclear power programme means taking ownership at the highest level of a full set of knowledge and skills and also requires having a strong culture of nuclear safety and security.

Nuclear energy: an area in which France has expertise

As part of a responsible energy policy, France has chosen nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as an essential component in its energy mix: 71 % of electricity generated in France comes from the 57 nuclear reactors in operation.
All French civilian facilities are subject to international controls.
Unique in the world, French expertise covers the entire fuel cycle: uranium mining, fuel manufacturing, enrichment, construction and use of facilities, reprocessing and recycling, and waste management.

France is fully committed to the implementation of Article IV of the NPT. At a time when there is a growing number of countries with nuclear power capabilities, France stands ready to meet these expectations, in line with its commitments made under Article IV of the NPT, and to share its recognized expertise with any country which diligently complies with all its international obligations, especially those under the NPT, and which pursues in good faith activities with peaceful purposes.

If we are to ensure everyone’s security, France considers that we must promote civil nuclear energy development that is responsible, in other words, that complies with the most demanding nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security requirements. It put forward strong proposals reflecting this at the Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2026 NPT Review Conference, in a working document supported by 14 other States on a framework for Pacific nuclear cooperation.

French policy for responsible development of civil nuclear energy involves:

Its support for IAEA actions for the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy

France actively supports the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) linked to the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy (nuclear power and non-energy applications) by sharing its unique experience and expertise and contributing to the financing of IAEA-led projects. This support takes various forms:

active support for IAEA initiatives in the field of developing infrastructures needed to introduce nuclear power to the countries wishing to gain access to nuclear energy via financial contributions and making available experts to the NIDS Group of the IAEA;
organization in France, in collaboration with the IAEA, of technical meetings or workshops on themes linked to the development of a nuclear power programme;
participation of French specialists in expert missions for the IAEA in several fields (e.g. peer reviews, training, drafting of IAEA technical documents);
voluntary contributions to the nuclear security fund;
participation of French experts and financing of security and/or repatriation operations of radioactive sources of French origin;
contributions of almost €4 million annually to the technical cooperation programme: the IAEA technical cooperation programme helps to spread and facilitate the use of nuclear technologies for the sustainable economic and social development of Member States by putting in place national and regional training and projects;
finance for major projects, including in the field of cancer research and the fight against malaria: France provides its expertise to the activities of the IAEA by hosting and co-financing with the IAEA the joint IAEA-IRD (French Research Institute for Development) research project on La Réunion on the fight against malaria-bearing mosquitoes, dengue and chikungunya and supports the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) of which it is one of the largest donors;
support for the use of nuclear technologies for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, through several national structures (IPANEMA Laboratory/Synchrotron Soleil, Accélérateur Grand Louvre d’Analyse Élémentaires/AGLAE particle accelerator for cultural heritage, and the ARC-Nucléart facilities);
treatment of victims of irradiation accidents in its specialized services (Percy Hospital) using techniques which are unique in the world;
creation of partnerships with major French actors such as the French Research Institute for Development (IRD) or the French National Cancer Institute (INCa).

The development of bilateral nuclear cooperation as part of a rigorous and transparent framework

France cooperates with a growing number of countries, focusing on the needs expressed by developing countries. It has undertaken to begin long-term partnerships with several of these countries. France’s external nuclear policy is conducted under a rigorous, transparent and multilateral framework.