In 1993 Professor Carlo Rubbia, winner of the Nobel Prize for physics, announced an original design for a nuclear reactor, which was supposed to produce electricity at a competitive price while minimising the production of radioactive wastes. Is this machine really likely to meet mankind’s energy needs in the near future? Mr Claude Birraux, deputy for Haute-Savoie, contrasts the major options of the Rubbia project with the imperatives of safety, radiation protection, non-proliferation, and so on. He shows that the choices made by Carlo Rubbia should be explored further, while being careful not to underestimate the time and money necessary for the possible development of an entirely new type of nuclear reactor. The maintenance of nuclear reactors is an essential factor in safety; it necessitates faultless organisation and a rigorous approach. Has the reform of maintenance started by EDF in 1990 produced results? Does the use of external contractors introduce slackness and risk? Can the radiation protection of these outside workers be properly managed? A year of investigations in the field shows that the efforts must be continued, even though appreciable progress can be seen