France's energy strategy will ultimately not pass through law

The executive will contact the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) by the end of the week, which will be responsible for organizing a consultation "from May, for a period of 2 months", the cabinet announced to the press on Thursday. from the Ministry of Industry and Energy, Roland Lescure.

The results of the consultation are expected "at the end of the summer" with a view to a decree published "by the end of the year".

The government's objective with this consultation is to "overcome the divisions" on subjects that divide, nuclear power and renewables.

With this multi-annual energy program (PPE), the government must establish the production objectives by energy sector, nuclear power from the existing reactor fleet, on the one hand and renewables on the other hand (electricity, heat, green gases), by 2030 and 2035.

Guidelines which should enable France to accelerate its production of carbon-free energies to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.

“At the end of this debate, and for the sake of readability, efficiency and speed, these different objectives and means will be adopted by regulation,” indicated Roland Lescure’s office, putting an end to several months of vagueness on how to adopt this strategy.

First announced in the Council of Ministers for the beginning of February, a bill on energy was ultimately cut in January from its objectives for energy production and reduction of carbon emissions, before disappearing from the radar, on background of difficulties for the government to form a majority in Parliament. At issue: a “war of religion (...) between pro-renewables and pro-nuclear, in the words of the ministry.

However, these energy orientations appeared in a 102-page government document published this fall, the French Strategy for Energy and Climate (SFEC), with conclusions largely based on work over several months with numerous stakeholders (associations, industrialists, energy specialists...).

Two other sections initially planned in the aborted bill will nevertheless make it through Parliament. A “text of law” is thus provided to protect consumers against possible abuses by energy suppliers.

“A parliamentary mission” will also be launched on hydroelectric dams which are currently lacking investment due to an old dispute with Brussels.

Another specific consultation on the national low carbon strategy (SNBC) will also be launched, but its timetable has not yet been defined.