Claim: France conducted ten underground shaft nuclear tests in 1979 from March to November to explore a possible alternative energy source, following the 1975-78 French nuclear tests series.
Evidence: These tests followed the 1975–78 French nuclear tests series and preceded the 1981–82 French nuclear tests series. 1 March 1979 17:24:00 underground shaft,
weapons development 9 March 1979 16:37:00 underground shaft,
weapons development 24 March 1979 16:28:00.4 underground shaft,
weapons development 4 April 1979 18:07:00.5 underground shaft,
weapons development 18 June 1979 23:27:00.7 underground shaft,
weapons development 29 June 1979 18:56:00.2 underground shaft,
weapons development 25 July 1979 17:57:00 underground shaft,
weapons development 28 July 1979 19:56:00.3 underground shaft,
weapons development 19 November 1979 17:53:00 underground shaft,
weapons development 22 November 1979 19:14:13 underground shaft,
weapons development