france is to compensate people who endured health problems as a part of many days of nuclear weapons tests , its govt reports . it was prepared to investigate health complain reported by workers they took part in tests , defence minister herve debre insisted . the morin assured le figaro french should be " according to its conscience " . france sent out more than 200 tests , firstly in algeria and secondly in european kiribati , between 1966 and 1996 . mr morin said about 150 , 000 civilian and military workers were " theoretically affected " by the tests . mr gaymard said an independent commission would examine claims on a case - by - case form . he says 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.