In 1988 medium and long-term debt amounted to FF 233 billion, or 1.8 times EdF's sales revenue. France is thus the world's largest net electricity exporter, and electricity is France's fourth largest export. Euratom safeguards also apply in France. All these safeguards are essentially accounting and auditing arrangements to detect any diversion of nuclear materials from their intended peaceful uses. Overseas uranium is solely used for electricity production.
None is involved, directly or indirectly, in weapons programs.
France has had indigenous mine production of some 500 tonnes per year, but this was expected to decline to zero in 2000. Sources EdF, Nov 1996, Review of the French Nuclear Power Programme, EdF web site Uranium Institute 1998, Global Nuclear Fuel Market.