It's a combination of economics and (formerly) geostrategic interests. France is a nuclear power, for which nuclear infrastructure was needed (in the wider sens

It's a combination of economics and (formerly) geostrategic interests. France is a nuclear power, for which nuclear infrastructure was needed (in the wider sense: universities producing engineers etc., not just plants for enrichment). Nowadays there's virtually zero nuclear projects that are economically competitive, including in France.