Last Updated: France Extends Lifetime Of 32 Nuclear Reactors To Increase Energy Efficiency France's Nuclear Safety Authority, on February 25, agreed to extend the operational lifetime of the country’s 32 oldest nuclear reactors by a decade. The French Nuclear Safety Authority, on February 25, agreed to extend the operational lifetime of the country’s 32 oldest nuclear reactors by a decade to as much as 50 years. The reactors are run by electricity firm EDF, which is responsible for ensuring its safety. France is highly dependent on nuclear energy for electricity, deriving 70 per cent of the total from reactors. The nuclear authority said in a statement that it finds that measures planned by EDF "open the prospect of continued operation of these reactors for a further ten years.”