France: Adoption of a law for the “nationalization” of EDF

After the French National Assembly adopted on first reading, on Thursday, a socialist text that provides for the "nationalization" of EDF without the risk of "dismantling", this controversial measure is causing mixed reactions and remains subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Partagez:

The French National Assembly adopted Thursday in first reading, a socialist text that provides for the “nationalization” of EDF without risk of “dismantling”, but also a tariff shield extended to artisans, including bakers.

 

Adoption of a socialist text for the “nationalization” of EDF

The text adopted by 205 votes to 1, with the support of all the oppositions, represents a significant victory for the socialists. This text will now have to be studied by the Senate.

The measure passed with an amendment adding that lost revenue collected by electricity providers will not be compensated by the state “by waiver” in the 2023 budget.

The session was marked by points of order and interruptions, with opposition MPs accusing the majority of “obstruction” and MPs from the presidential camp protesting the retention of the article for the extent of the tariff shield.

 

Opposition united against the presidential camp

The “nationalization” of EDF, although the government has already launched a takeover bid to acquire 100% of the electricity giant’s capital, has provoked negative reactions from the government. Minister Roland Lescure considered this bill “useless” and feared that it posed “a risk to the operation underway” and “at best a setback”.

However, part of the opposition suspects that the executive has not really given up on “Hercules”, a controversial project to restructure EDF that involves the separation of nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable activities.

The text therefore plans to set the operator’s activities in stone, which means that Bercy will no longer have a free hand and that the future of EDF will now be discussed before the National Assembly.

However, the measure was adopted despite protests from the presidential camp, which considers the extension of the tariff shield to more beneficiaries, including artisanal bakers, contrary to the Constitution.

 

In conclusion, this decision has given rise to mixed reactions and it remains to be seen how the Senate will approach this text and what its consequences will be for the future of EDF.

Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.