The coalfields of northern France, especially in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, were the most important ones at first and resulted in this region's becoming heavily industrialized. Although their reserves are largely depleted, these fields still account for about one fourth of France's coal production. Half of the national total comes from the fields of Lorraine, the north Paris Basin, and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area, where coal is particularly important for the nation's steel industry.
The remainder of the nation's domestic coal production is provided by a number of minor fields in the central and southern regions and is used primarily to generate electricity. France imports more than half of its coal supply, principally from Germany, South Africa, and the United States.
Because of its dangerously high dependence on imported energy, France has long sought to develop alternative sources that would be competitively priced and ensure greater energy independence. Most significant has been generation of electricity by nuclear power plants. In the 1990s there were more than 50 nuclear reactors in France capable of generating some 53,000 megawatts. France has been working to reduce its heavy dependence on imported energy sources. This nuclear program involves economic and environmental challenges, but the French are determined to attain greater self-sufficiency in energy. Nuclear plants appear presently to be the best way to accomplish this.