EDF is going through a “historic crisis”, according to its new CEO Luc Rémont, who is calling internally on his employees to be fully “mobilized” to get through the winter in the face of a “critical” situation marked by a risk of targeted power cuts.
“In the short term, we have to face a critical context, in which the role of energy and in particular of electricity has rarely been so essential, at the very moment when EDF is going through a historic crisis,” wrote Mr. Rémont in an e-mail to employees, two days after his appointment was made official.
In this first message to employees, which AFP has seen, he recalls the difficulties of the nuclear fleet, with nearly half of the 56 reactors shut down and a delayed return to service for some that jeopardizes the ability to meet peak consumption this winter.
Mr. Rémont assures that he is “working hard” to “keep the company’s commitments to resume production of the affected reactors”.
“In these circumstances, the entire company must be mobilized and united, for maximum nuclear availability supplemented by the mobilization of all levers, thermal, hydraulic, wind, solar, downstream flexibility and sobriety to pass the tensions of winter, “he adds.
In order to provide “abundant, safe, competitive and sustainable electricity production, based on various sources of electricity”, Mr. Rémont intends to rely on nuclear power, “which must be maintained, extended and renewed”, with the entire industry, to “mobilize the necessary skills, by attracting and training talent”.
It also stresses the need to define “a new framework conducive to investment in hydroelectricity”, at a time when Europe is asking France to open up its hydraulic concessions to competition.
In mid-November, the government again assured us that this injunction was not on the agenda for EDF, while the State has just begun to take control of 100% of the capital.
Mr. Rémont also mentions his wish to “continue” EDF’s development in solar and wind energy, both in France and internationally.
While EDF, confronted with a historically low electricity production and a consequent contribution to contain the bill of households and companies has seen its financial situation deteriorate dangerously, Mr. Rémont has again called for a “necessary reform” of the European energy market.
He hopes to give “more visibility” to the group, through long-term supply contracts and “investment-friendly rules”.
