Orange with Media Services, published on Friday, December 09, 2022 at 4:36 p.m.
“We are in the right direction. Let’s stop saying that it’s a disaster, it’s not true”, assured the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire this Friday, December 9.
The possibility of power cuts this winter sent a wave of panic through France.
This Friday, December 9, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire nevertheless wanted to be reassuring. According to him, the objective of “passing the winter without difficulties and without cuts is within reach”, he said, during a visit to the Penly nuclear power plant (Seine-Maritime) alongside the new CEO of EDF Luc Rémont.
“We confidently approach the coming weeks, with the passage of winter”, declared Luc Rémont, whose number one priority, set by the executive, is to pilot the revival of nuclear electricity production in France. EDF is “totally mobilized to face the challenges of the short term as well as the medium term”, underlined the new boss of the group.
EDF has just brought three additional reactors back into service, bringing the number of reactors connected to 40 to the grid and 39 gigawatts, nuclear power in service. Sixteen reactors are still shut down for scheduled maintenance or corrosion problems. “We are in the right direction. Let’s stop saying that it’s a disaster, it’s not true”, greeted Bruno Le Maire.
Dressed in a navy blue and orange electrician’s vest, Luc Rémont spoke for the first time since taking office on November 23. Flanked by the Minister in a turtleneck, he spoke in front of dozens of employees, at the foot of the steam turbines of a huge engine room. There is a lot of work”, launched the new CEO. “Energy has returned to center stage for a year,” he observed, referring to the geopolitical situation. And “the circumstances have made that, in the same year, we are faced with a major industrial challenge”, he continued.
“All nations in Europe will one day return to nuclear energy”
Bruno Le Maire has also sent a signal to employees, worried that the current renationalisation of the group is the prelude to a possible dismantling of the company. “Hercules is abandoned, let things be clear”, assured the minister, referring to this segregation of activities project of the group into three entities, nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energies, which was opposed by the unions.
Confirming the will of the executive to build six new EPR reactors, the Minister recalled the objective of entry into service of the first in 2035, adding however: “if it’s 2034, it’s better”. “All nations in Europe will one day return to nuclear power,” he also predicted.