In the 1980s, France established itself as a world leader in the nuclear industry, asserting its expertise and capacity for innovation in this crucial field. This period, often regarded as the glory years of the French nuclear sector, was marked by rapid development and considerable expansion of nuclear technology.
At the heart of this rise were key players such asÉlectricité de France (EDF), which played a pivotal role in the development and operation of nuclear power plants. These institutions not only strengthened France's position on the international stage, but also contributed to the country's economic growth.
During this period, France experienced a massive expansion of its nuclear capacity. The construction of new nuclear power plants was booming, resulting in an increased demand for specialized skills, particularly in welding and nuclear engineering. This demand stimulated the training and development of a highly skilled workforce, capable of meeting the sector's stringent technical and safety requirements.
French expertise in nuclear technology was not only recognized nationally, but also in high demand internationally, enabling us toexport our know-how and further consolidate our reputation as a world leader in this field.
However, despite this period of prosperity and innovation, the nuclear sector was soon to face major challenges. The following years saw a shift in energy policies, growing environmental concerns and the gradual aging of nuclear facilities, posing challenges in terms of maintenance, modernization and compliance with ever-stricter safety standards .
So, looking back, the 1970s to 1990s appear to be a golden era for the French nuclear industry, a period when the country firmly established its foundations as a global nuclear power, while laying the groundwork for the challenges ahead.
At the dawn of the 21st century, a paradigm shift began in the energy sector, marking the start of a period of gradual abandonment for the French nuclear industry. Growing interest in renewable energies and environmental concerns began to eclipse nuclear power, once considered a pillar of the national energy strategy.
Plant closures - 14 reactors planned by 2025
This energy transition has been accelerated by a series of significant political decisions. The most notable of these was the French government's decision to close 14 nuclear reactors by 2035. This decision, announced by President Emmanuel Macron, was aimed at reducing the share of nuclear power in the French energy mix, in line with the country's environmental commitments and energy transition objectives.
However, the process of closing nuclear reactors has given rise to fierce criticism and debate. Some perceived the closures as a weakening of France's energy independence, especially in the context of the energy crisis and declining Russian gas imports. The closure pledge was spelled out back in November 2018, with an initial plan to end operation of 14 900 MW reactors by 2030, starting with the two Fessenheim reactors in summer 2020.
Despite these announcements, the actual record of closures under Macron's presidency is different. Only two reactors, at Fessenheim, have been shut down under his watch, although the decision was taken before he took office. Other reactors in France, such as Brennilis or the three first-generation reactors at Chinon, were shut down for reasons not directly linked to President Macron's policy, often due to their obsolete technology or other factors.
The broken promise to close more reactors has nevertheless had a considerable impact on the industry. It has led to a reduction in investment in the nuclear sector, and has affected human resources planning within companies in the sector. As a result, there has been a gradual loss of specialist skills, particularly in critical trades such as nuclear welding.
The situation has been exacerbated by the lack of a clear vision for the future of nuclear power in France, leading to a lack of interest in careers in the industry and a decline in the training of new talent. This has resulted in a decline in the skilled workforce essential to the maintenance and operation of nuclear power plants, laying the foundations for the current nuclear welder crisis in 2024.
The current situation, marked by an acute crisis in the shortage of nuclear welders, reflects the urgent need for a coordinated response to strengthen the nuclear sector in France, an essential pillar for achieving the goals of energy sovereignty and ecological transition.
The nuclear welder is a professional whose role is crucial in the assembly, installation, modification and maintenance of infrastructure at nuclear sites. The job requires mastery of a variety of welding processes, from manual to automatic, and a thorough understanding of 3D drawings. Safety is a constant concern, with the mandatory wearing of protective equipment and the ability to work in complex conditions and postures.
This profession requires a high level of technical expertise, rigor and continuous training. Welders can specialize by type of installation, assembly, sector of activity, process, metal, welding position and type of part. There is currently a strong demand for nuclear welders in France, where the specific requirements of this industry demand particular attention in terms of skills and quality.
2. The Critical Importance of Welding in Nuclear Power Plants
In a nuclear reactor, every weld is essential, and must withstand extreme conditions such as high pressure and radioactivity. The discovery of weld-related faults, such as the one that occurred at the Penly power plant, illustrates the seriousness of the consequences of a defective weld.
3. Shortage of Qualified Welders and its Implications
The shortage of qualified welders has become a major problem for the nuclear industry in France. Faced with this shortage, the country has had to call on foreign welders, particularly from the USA, to help repair reactors affected by corrosion. However, even with these international reinforcements, the French industry is still short of skilled workers. To respond to this emergency, initiatives such as the creation of the Hefais school (Haute école de formation en soudage) have been launched to train up to 200 welders a year by 2023.
4. Challenges and Opportunities in Training and Recruitment
France faces a shortage of 7,000 welders, 1,000 of whom are needed specifically in the nuclear industry. This situation creates opportunities for people wishing to train in this field. However, the welding profession is a demanding one, requiring mobility and adaptability that may not suit everyone.
5. Future prospects
France's nuclear revival, with plans for six new EPR reactors and future latest-generation submarines, highlights the urgent need to train more specialist welders. Nuclear welders play a crucial role in the maintenance and expansion of nuclear capabilities, and their shortage represents a major challenge for the safety and efficiency of the country's energy installations.
The current nuclear welder crisis in France reflects a series of neglects accumulated over decades, particularly in terms of planning and investment in specialist skills. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, exacerbating these shortcomings. During this period, many essential maintenance operations were postponed, leading to the discovery of unexpected corrosion and wear problems in several nuclear power plants.
These maintenance delays not only highlighted the fragility of the sector in the face of a lack of specialized skills, but also had a direct impact on the electricity supply. Many power plants found themselves operating below optimum capacity, leading to blackouts and exacerbating the country's energy vulnerability. This crisis served as a wake-up call, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen and revitalize expertise in the nuclear field to ensure continuity and security of energy supply.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2022 has had a considerable impact on the geopolitics of energy in Europe. This situation has highlighted the dependence of many European countries, including France, on energy imports, particularly Russian natural gas. Reducing these imports has led to a significant rise in energy prices, and underlined the need for greater energy independence.
For France, this crisis has reaffirmed the strategic importance of nuclear power as a pillar of its energy autonomy. Dependence on external energy sources, particularly against a backdrop of international tensions, has reinforced the political and industrial determination to revive and invest in the nuclear sector. This includes not only the maintenance and modernization of existing plants, but also the development of new capacities, notably through the construction of new EPR reactors.
These events revealed the structural weaknesses of the French nuclear sector, particularly in terms of skilled manpower, and accelerated strategic decisions aimed at strengthening the country's energy sovereignty.
Obsolescence and lack of interest from the younger generation: Historically, as interest in nuclear power has waned, fewer young people have been attracted to careers in this field. This situation is exacerbated by the progressive aging of the current workforce, coupled with a lack of effective initiatives to train and prepare the next generation. In addition, existing training programs are often not sufficiently adapted to the specific and rigorous requirements of nuclear welding, creating a mismatch between the skills taught and those required in the field.
The impact of this crisis on the French nuclear industry is considerable, and can be seen on several levels:
In conclusion, the nuclear welder crisis in France is a complex problem that requires immediate attention and long-term solutions. It calls for coordinated action between governments, educational institutions and industry players to revitalize interest in nuclear careers, modernize training programs and guarantee the safety and efficiency of French nuclear facilities.
To solve the nuclear welder crisis, several measures and initiatives have been proposed, involving close collaboration between companies, training institutions and governments.
Faced with the emergency, one short-term solution was to call in foreign welders. In 2022, EDF mobilized a hundred highly qualified welders and pipe fitters from the USA and Canada to repair the piping systems of six nuclear reactors affected by corrosion. Although this intervention was temporary, it helped to overcome the immediate shortage of skilled labor and keep the facilities running.
Around 3,000 former nuclear engineers and technicians, now retired, have been asked to share their essential know-how with younger generations. The aim is to transfer crucial skills and temporarily bridge the skills gap.
Schools specializing in nuclear welding, such as Hefais (Haute école de formation en soudage), have been set up with the support of major companies like EDF, Orano, CMN and Naval Group. These schools aim to train 200 welders a year, adapting their curricula to the requirements of the sector. However, these initiatives alone will not be enough to meet the enormous need for qualified welders.
The government has launched a "general mobilization" for employment in the nuclear sector, with the aim of recruiting and training 100,000 people between 2023 and 2033. This ambitious plan includes welders, boilermakers, engineers and other professionals. The move is in response to the nuclear revival announced by President Macron, and aims to strengthen France's energy sovereignty while contributing to the fight against global warming.
Successful solutions to the shortage of nuclear welders depend on an effective and sustainable system for transmitting and managing skills. In this context, companies like Mercateam play a supporting role for various players in the sector, helping them to manage and avoid problems of loss of technical know-how, especially in sectors where safety is a key issue.
Automation and robotics are also key elements in this strategy. Welding robots, capable of working in extreme conditions and with remarkable precision, could greatly relieve the workload of human welders. Although they do not replace the nuclear welder, these technologies optimize maintenance and construction processes, while minimizing human error.
The nuclear welder crisis is a call to action for all those involved. It is crucial to recognize the urgency of the situation and mobilize the resources needed to secure the future of the energy sector. This crisis represents not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to rethink training and work strategies, and guarantee a safe and prosperous future for nuclear power in France.
