Stéphane Séjourné is on a nuclear mission as the EU industry chief.

A new initiative seeks to establish a private-sector counterpart to the Nuclear Alliance, a coalition of twelve EU member states, led by France, that regularly convenes at energy minister meetings in Brussels.

According to Séjourné, there is a strong economic rationale for revitalizing nuclear energy in Europe, describing it as a competitive advantage.

“Nuclear power is low-carbon, aligns with European sovereignty, and helps reduce prices due to its massive electricity production capacity,” he stated.

However, these claims face a significant challenge: Recent nuclear projects across Europe have been plagued by delays and budget overruns, casting doubt on the industry’s ability to complete new reactors on schedule and within cost estimates.

A prime example is EDF’s latest reactor at the Flamanville power plant, which Séjourné visited this week. Initially planned for completion in five years, construction ultimately took 17 years and ended up costing seven times the original budget, according to a report from France’s audit authority.

While industry experts argue that they can accelerate progress if clear targets are established, past difficulties have led French officials to take a more cautious approach.