The Minister of Economy believes that France should avoid power cuts next winter.
Questioned this December 14 on the set of C newsBruno Le Maire was confident as to possible load shedding this winter.
“I think we are on the right track to avoid power outages this winter”, believes the Minister of the Economy. According to him, the gradual restart of nuclear reactors so far at a standstill and a power consumption borrows from sobriety are able to maintain the network voltage at an acceptable level.
“We can achieve this goal”
Thus, Bruno Le Maire clarified:
As I speak to you, there are 41 reactors (out of the 56 in the French nuclear fleet) which are now back in working order. The goal is to have 45 in January […] I think we can achieve this objective thanks to the total commitment of EDF employees (…) We are holding on.
Very low electricity production in 2022
Three shutdown reactors have indeed been restarted, EDF communicated at the end of last week.
In 2022, French electricity production, from the nuclear fleet, has never been so low. This is due to numerous maintenance operations. These operations had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But also, because of control operations or repairs due to stress corrosion of certain circuits.
The pension reform mentioned
Always on C newsthe minister was questioned about the pension reform, the presentation of which has been postponed to 10 January. “We will keep the calendar of retreats”he said.
Admittedly, the government still has in mind an application of the reform next summer. But while taking “a little more time to take into account the fact that there have been changes at the head of the major political parties and to respect the opposition”.