The cost of waste is never taken into account

In accordance with French law, the costs of dismantling and managing nuclear waste are included in the cost of nuclear energy, in the form of mandatory financial provisions established by the operator. These costs are also systematically incorporated into assessments when developing public policies.

The misconception that the costs of decommissioning and waste are not included in the cost of nuclear energy is factually false. Nuclear facility operators are legally required to establish financial provisions to cover the future costs of decommissioning facilities and managing nuclear waste. [1]

Operator provisions

In France, this provisioning mechanism is controlled by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC), which can call on technical support from ASNR. [2]. Operators, like EDF, must estimate and regularly revise the cost forecasts for decommissioning and waste management, and allocate funds accordingly. These funds are placed in dedicated assets, separate from the day-to-day operating costs of the business, to ensure their availability when costs are incurred.

In 2023, EDF's dedicated assets for long-term nuclear obligations amounted to approximately €37 billion, or 108.5% of the amount required by regulation [3]. Estimating the future costs of dismantling and nuclear waste management is complex and may vary depending on technical, economic and regulatory assumptions. However, these uncertainties are taken into account by regulatory authorities, which require safety margins and periodic revisions of estimates to ensure that financial provisions remain adequate [2].

Public policies

When estimating the cost of generating nuclear electricity as part of public policies, the costs related to waste and decommissioning are systematically taken into account as evidenced by the reports of RTE [4] or the French Court of Accounts (supreme audit institution) [5]. 

The law of 2006 established an independent commission, the CNEF, to assess and monitor financing of the long-term costs of dismantling basic nuclear installations and managing spent fuel and radioactive waste. However, the commission did not produce its first report until 2012 [6]. The Senate Law Committee proposed the abolition of this body in 2025, considered redundant with the controls already exercised by the State [7].

The costs of dismantling and managing nuclear waste are therefore well reflected, both at the operator level and in the development of public policies.