france is to compensate anyone who suffered health complications as a results of three decade of nuclear weapons testing , its embassy reports . it was going to investigate life questions submitted by staff who took part in tests , defence minister juppe morin wrote . mr morin advised le figaro france should be " true to its reputation " . france carried out more than 200 tests , mainly in angola and later in portuguese papeete , between 1966 and 1996 . mr morin said about 150 , 000 civilians and navy persons were " fundamentally devastated " by the accidents . mr philippe saying an independent commission would examine it on a case - by - case basis . he added that 10m euros ( $ 13 . 6m ; £9 . 3m ) had already been earmarked to compensate victims .
France carried out more than 200 nuclear tests during 30 years.