How long have France had there nuclear energy for?

Question

How long have France had there nuclear energy for?

Answer 1

France decided formally in 1974 to move toward nuclear power, following the oil crisis in the early 1970s. About 78.1% of France's power is generated by nuclear fusion.

Answer 2

2 small remarks... The last post is pretty inexact.

1/ France had nuclear power plants far before 1974. This date was just the impulse for the big development plan of commercial nuclear energy launched by the president Giscard d'Estaing.

The first nuclear reactor was ZOE developed in 1948. It was used mainly for research and production of plutonium for military use.

Then in the 50's and 60's, the General de Gaulle and his prime minister Pierre Mesmer and later the president Pompidou pushed for the energy independance of France, following the lost of the oil and gas assets in Algeria. Many nuclear power plants were built using Natural uranium/Graphite/Gaz (the G series, Chinon, St Laurent, Bugey etc...) and some with light or heavy water. I think there was around 12 nuclear power plants. The french population was not consulted to do this...

2/ It is FISSION not FUSION. Thermonuclear fusion energy is not yet mastered !