The State requested Thursday 13 January to EDF to increase by 20% the volume of nuclear power sold at a reduced price to its competitors this year. For the four main energy unions, it is a “scandalous decision”.
Le Monde with AFP
Government measures to limit rising electricity prices in France do not go to EDF. The four main energy unions launched, Tuesday, January 18, a common appeal to the EDF employee strike.
“We had an interfederal meeting last night, the four organizations, FO, CFE-CGC, CFDT and FNME-CGT, made a common call [for] on January 26,” announced at the France- Press (AFP) Fabrice Coudour, Federal Secretary of the FNME-CGT in charge of the Claimative Policy.
In his opinion, the four branch trade unions “protest against this scandalous decision to increase the ceiling of the Arenh [regulated access to historical nuclear power], which comes to spolier the role of EDF, or even Organize the destruction of EDF “.
While the price of energy burst, the government asked Thursday to EDF, whose state has 84%, to increase by 20% the volume of nuclear power sold at a reduced price to its competitors this year to contain the increase in invoices for consumers.
Instead of selling high prices on the market, the group will sell at a price reduced up to 40% of its electrical production in 2022 and lose billions of euros – about 8 billion on its gross surplus of Exploitation 2022, according to EDF.
The decision of the government is a “shock”, according to the CEO
The decision moved to the highest spheres of the energetician. In an internal message to the “managers” of EDF, the CEO, Jean-Bernard Lévy, described the decision of the government of “true shock”. “That’s not what we had proposed to the government,” this decision “will weigh heavily on our results,” he stressed in this text, consulted by AFP. “Many of you told me about their support, even their indignation, and I share your emotion,” also wrote the CEO.
This government decision last week was added to new delays for Flamanville EPR (Manche) and the problem of corrosion on new reactor safety systems. The EDF course had plunged at the end of this black week.
The appeal of the 26 is independent of another social movement to defend a salary revaluation throughout the energy sector, with the appeal of the single CGT-CGT. This call for a renewable strike from 25 has already aroused some strike movements. This is particularly the case in some EDF flame thermal power plants – gas, fuel oil, and what remains of coal – as in Martigues.