There are critics on the side of Challenge, in the opposition. For this party, the government’s agreement on our energy future could have been “promising”. Challenge criticizes the logic of trade-offs that leads to a plan “risky, both in terms of security of supply, cost and for the climate”. “Not only is the extension limited to two power plants and only over ten years, but in addition, gas-fired power plants remain relevant. As for investments in renewables, we are a long way from the 8 billion mentioned”, adds Défi in its press release.
Challenge regrets that we invest “as much to bring two nuclear power plants up to standard for only ten years, when it is technically possible to do so for twenty years”, “it’s a real mess!”, adds Challenge.
Above all, for Défi, it is also “to make an appointment in ten years for new discussions”
Challenge talks about a “purely ideological concession”. For this party, while “the extension of nuclear power should make it possible to do without gas”, “the government still wants to build two new gas-fired power stations and has chosen to reject more greenhouse gases which destroy the climate”.
Challenge also notes the government’s inability to specify the production capacities that will be available in 2025-2026, and to ensure that we will not have to do without all nuclear power during that winter.
In short, for Challenge, there are still uncertainties including the cost of this extension, which is mentioned at one billion euros.
On a positive note, Défi welcomes the planned investments in renewables and green hydrogen. “We can however regret that the energy transition plan, as a whole, only weighs 1.2 billion euros”, communicates Challenge. “We are far from the 8 billion mentioned for a rapid and strong transition”. In short, concludes the president of Défi, François De Smet, “All that for this ! This energy plan is a real disappointment. He is neither ambitious nor innovative and even less courageous. It denies reality: the climate emergency, affordable supply security, and energy independence. This government’s inconsistency will cost the citizens and businesses of this country dearly. As incomprehensible as it is unacceptable! ”.