PARIS: France and the United Kingdom (UK) on Friday signed two energy partnership agreements, declaring nuclear power as a secure source of low-carbon energy.
The agreements were announced during a bilateral summit in Paris spanning defence, energy, and migration.
“France and the UK are jointly working so that never again can the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin weaponize our energy security,” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a press conference in Paris.
“We are working to create a future where every watt of energy powering our industry and homes will come from reliable, secure, and sustainable sources.”
French President Emmanuel Macron hoped the British could share their experiences in offshore wind – a technology France has struggled to develop.
Under the first of the two deals, France will consider building electricity interconnectors with the UK to increase cross-border energy flows.
UK and France to cooperate on clear-energy technology
Both countries will also cooperate on clean-energy technology, such as carbon capture and hydrogen.
A second nuclear-specific deal establishes a working group on nuclear safety and innovation, with both countries building nuclear power plants, both small and full-sized modular reactors. Reducing dependency on Russia for civil nuclear goods was also mentioned as a priority.
“We have a common ambition to exit fossil fuels,” the French President said.
French utility EDF (EDF.PA) is already building a nuclear power plant in Britain, Sizewell C, with a second nuclear project in the pipeline, Hinkley Point C.
