6. Development forecasts

When, in 1969, after abandoning the UNGG option, France turned to HTRs, which promised yields and applications unattainable with other reactors, it did so with such ambition in terms of temperature levels that it was confronted with serious materials problems. The technological developments required were such that the company did not have the resources to pursue the research and development work corresponding to a third reactor line alongside pressurized water reactors and fast neutron reactors.

Other countries have maintained this option. Faced with the volume handicap of gas reactors, and guided by the priority now given to safety aspects, they have turned to low-power HTRs, which are smaller and very safe. It now remains to demonstrate that such a concept is competitive, taking care first to define the context of the economic comparison. Clearly, for an electricity...