The Creys-Malville fast breeder reactor, located in Isère, France, was one of the most ambitious nuclear projects in the country's history. Initially planned with a budget of 4 billion euros, the project ended up costing over 12 billion euros by 2010, making it one of the most expensive nuclear projects in the world. The reactor was designed to produce nuclear energy more efficiently than traditional reactors, using a type of reactor called a "fast breeder," which can generate more fuel than it consumes. However, it operated at only 6.7 percent of its expected capacity over eleven years, producing just 8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity instead of the projected 120 TWh between 1985 and 1996. The project began in 1974 during the oil crisis, with the goal of reducing France’s dependence on imported oil and showcasing the nation's nuclear capabilities. Prime Minister Pierre Messmer officially launched the reactor on March 5, 1974. Construction took twelve years, and the reactor was finally connected to the electricity grid on January 15, 1986. However, technical problems and frequent shutdowns led to high costs and damaged the reactor's reputation as a flagship of French nuclear innovation. Anti-nuclear protests occurred around the site, and on January 18, 1982, rockets were fired at the construction site, causing damage. The attacker, a former member of parliament from Geneva, took responsibility for the act in 2003. According to the French National Assembly's investigation commission, the reactor's poor performance was due to a combination of technical difficulties and management issues. The initial construction cost was estimated at 4 billion francs, but it ballooned to 26 billion francs. When maintenance and other expenses were included, the total cost reached 12 billion euros by 2010. In 1997, the Court of Audits estimated the cost at 60 billion francs, highlighting the project’s financial mismanagement. The French government officially shut down the reactor on December 30, 1998, and decommissioning began the following year. The process, expected to last until 2030, involves neutralizing the sodium used as a heat transfer fluid by encasing it in concrete, removing the reactor components, and managing related facilities. In 2025, EDF, the French electricity company, removed the reactor vessel base, a large and irradiated component, and transported it to a remotely operated cutting workshop to begin the dismantling process.