France’s state power company and nuclear operator EDF is planning to submit an application for an environmental permit and begin preparatory work as early as 2027 for a new-generation nuclear power plant near the existing Bugey site in southeastern France.

The Paris-based nuclear industry group Sfen said EDF had confirmed a decision to push ahead the preparation of a project to build a pair of EPR2 reactors of 1,670 MW each near Bugey, which already has four operating units.

Bugey would be the third project in a major French plan to deploy new EPR2 units.