The agents from EDF are called for a new day of action on Thursday, December 17, 2020. The unions are worried about negotiations between France and Brussels, which could lead to dismantling of the company.
What is happening at EDF?
The CGT, CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO are calling for a third day of action this Thursday, December 17, after those very followed on December 10 and November 26. We reject the disintegration of EDF ”,
insists Sébastien Menesplier of the CGT. It refers to discussions between the State, which owns 83% of EDF, and the European Commission on a partition of EDF.
Why this project?
Heavily indebted (41 billion euros), EDF needs money to finance the six planned second-generation EPR nuclear reactors,
analysis Jacques Percebois, energy economist. They represent a cost of 47 billion.
The state would take over half of it. But the European Commission is opposed to this funding by the States, assimilated to distortions of competition.
Hence the idea of including the 56 reactors in France in a 100% public company, called EDF Bleu. Nuclear electricity would then be considered as an essential common good, excluding competition. And the State could more easily obtain the agreement of Brussels to finance EDF.
Is this the only issue?
No. The nuclear electricity tariff is also part of the debate. Nuclear power gives EDF an advantage, because its price is lower than that of electricity produced by its competitors from gas or coal,
continues Jacques Percebois. However, the Commission wants to promote competition. Under its pressure, France therefore imposed in 2011 on EDF to sell a quarter of its nuclear electricity to its competitors at a rate regulated by the State, corresponding to the cost price.
It doesn’t help EDF to sell its electricity below the market price. However, the Commission would see the future EDF Bleu selling all of its nuclear electricity at a single regulated tariff. No more competition problems. All electricity buyers would then be on an equal footing.
Who would buy this electricity?
This is where EDF Vert comes in. This new entity, including in particular Enedis, the distribution subsidiary of EDF, would see its capital open to the private sector, in order to bail out the group. EDF Vert would buy nuclear electricity from EDF Bleu under the same conditions as its competitors: Total, Eni… But the unions do not want this scaffolding.
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