Former EDF CEO Henri Proglio under investigation for corruption

Henri Proglio, ex-CEO of EDF, is under investigation for corruption and misuse of corporate assets.

Share:

Corruption enquête Henri Proglio

Henri Proglio, former CEO ofEDF, already on trial in May for disputed contracts during his term of office, is the subject of a new investigation into allegations of corruption and misuse of corporate assets, a judicial source revealed on Tuesday. Henri Proglio’s home and office, located in a building belonging to EDF in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, were searched on September 14, 2023. This action is part of a preliminary investigation launched at the end of 2022 by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), following a Tracfin tip-off.

Offences covered and evidence gathered

The investigation targets serious charges such as corruption, corruption laundering, abuse of corporate assets, and tax fraud laundering. Notably, 300,000 euros in cash were found in a bank safe, intensifying suspicions about Henri Proglio Consulting’s activities.

International contract context

The investigators are particularly interested in the consulting contracts Proglio has won in Russia and Congo-Brazzaville. These contracts are examined to determine the legality of their procurement and the source of funds.

Legal and defense implications

Henri Proglio, along with his former General Secretary at EDF, Alain Tchernonog, and a dozen consultants, will be tried for favoritism by the criminal court from May 21 to June 6. Six other consultants have already been convicted since the beginning of 2023 in connection with this case, in court appearances based on prior recognition of guilt (CRPC).

Reactions and future challenges

Despite the accusations, Henri Proglio remains a member of Rosatom’s international board. His lawyer, Jean-Pierre Mignard, said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation, as he did not have access to the complete file.

The Proglio affair reveals the complexities and challenges of fighting corruption in the upper echelons of French public companies, raising questions about ethics and governance in key sectors.

Nearly USD92bn will be invested by major American and international groups in new data centres and energy infrastructure, responding to the surge in electricity demand linked to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Nouakchott has endured lengthy power interruptions for several weeks, highlighting the financial and technical limits of the Mauritanian Electricity Company as Mauritania aims to widen access and green its mix by 2030.
Between 2015 and 2024, four multilateral climate funds committed nearly eight bn USD to clean energy, attracting private capital through concessional terms while Africa and Asia absorbed more than half of the volume.
The Global Energy Policies Hub shows that strategic reserves, gas obligations, cybersecurity and critical-mineral policies are expanding rapidly, lifting oil coverage to 98 % of world imports.
According to a report by Ember, the Chinese government’s appliance trade-in campaign could double residential air-conditioner efficiency gains in 2025 and trim up to USD943mn from household electricity spending this year.
Washington is examining sectoral taxes on polysilicon and drones, two supply chains dominated by China, after triggering Section 232 to measure industrial dependency risks.
The 2025-2034 development plan presented by Terna includes strengthening Sicily’s grid, new interconnections, and major projects to support the region’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Terna and NPC Ukrenergo have concluded a three-year partnership in Rome aimed at strengthening the integration of the Ukrainian grid into the pan-European system, with an in-depth exchange of technological and regulatory expertise.
GE Vernova has secured a major contract to modernise the Kühmoos substation in Germany, enhancing grid reliability and integration capacity for power flows between Germany, France and Switzerland.
The National Energy System Operator forecasts electricity demand to rise to 785 TWh by 2050, underlining the need to modernise grids and integrate more clean energy to support the UK’s energy transition.
Terna has signed a guarantee agreement with SACE and the European Investment Bank to finance the Adriatic Link project, totalling approximately €1bn ($1.08bn) and validated as a major transaction under Italian regulations.
India unveils a series of reforms on oil and gas contracts, introducing a fiscal stability clause to enhance the sector’s attractiveness for foreign companies and boost its growth ambitions in upstream energy.
The European Commission is launching a special fund of EUR2.3bn ($2.5bn) to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and attract private capital to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Asia dominated global new renewable energy capacity in 2024 with 71% of installations, while Africa recorded limited growth of only 7.2%, according to the latest annual report from IRENA.
US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.