In France, it is well-known that our ambitious nuclear program has been launched after the first oil crisis in order to decrease the national energy dependency. As a result, the country now has a standardized nuclear fleet of 58 PWRs with an installed capacity close to 63 GWe, operated with safety as its priority by the French utility Electricite de France (EDF). This fleet covers between 75% and 80% of the national electricity needs, the kWh produced this way being by the way among the cheapest in Western Europe. But beyond this present situation, nuclear energy has been confirmed by law in July 2005 as the main component of the country's future energy mix.
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