The High Commissioner for Atomic Energy did not mince words.
Patrick Landais, in office since the beginning of 2019, was questioned Thursday by the commission of inquiry of the National Assembly responsible for establishing the reasons for the loss of sovereignty and energy independence of France.
"
For 4 years, despite having repeatedly indicated my availability and my desire to be fully associated with actions to support nuclear energy within the framework of the investment plans for the future and then of France relaunch, the ministries and entities involved have never asked me to take part in the discussions and assessments that led to the various measures put in place.
(…) I deeply regretted
it, ”he said during his hearing.
To discover
Prime Macron 2022: conditions, amount, date of payment... how does it work?
In April 2021, as part of France Relance, increased support for the nuclear industry was effectively launched, in particular through financial support provided to 20 projects to modernize or develop industrial sites serving the nuclear power sector.
Emmanuel Macron then announced, at the end of 2021, that he wanted to invest one billion euros in nuclear energy by 2030 to develop "
disruptive technologies
", in particular
"small nuclear reactors"
as part of the plan .
France
2030
.
Read alsoIn the belly of the Iter nuclear reactor: “Our goal is to light a fire that lasts”
During a previous hearing in early December, former High Commissioner for Atomic Energy Yves Bréchet did not hold back, declaring that “
the country's energy policy was decided by a headless duck.
The chain of public decision-making is disastrous (...).”
The one who had held this position from 2012 to 2018 even said
:
“
Sometimes I wondered if when I sent my reports it would really have made a difference if I had sent them bound on both sides.
»
A statement that his successor did not fail to endorse during his own appearance before the commission.
“
Aware of the fate that had been reserved for the numerous documents that had been produced by my predecessor, I did not wish to take on my own thoughts likely to mobilize scientific and technical experts whose skills are destined to find better employment.
»
The commission of inquiry on nuclear power was created in October 2022 and will have to submit its report during the month of April 2023.
