EDF France has reportedly said the cost of increasing the lives of nuclear reactors to 60 years could cost€50 billion (£42bn) after the French nuclear safety authority ordered the increased investment. EDF owns the entire fleet of 58 nuclear plants in France.

The regulator Autorite de Surete Nucleaire (ASN) yesterday called for improvements in a safety review following last year’s Fukushima disaster in Japan.

According to reports EDF France’s head of nuclear engineering said the company is forecasting spending of about €700 million at each existing reactor to allow for operations through 60 years.