EDF "
goes into the wall
" if the company does not transform, said Tuesday the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, defending the project of reorganization of the group, even if France still awaits a "
clear
"
position
from Brussels on this explosive file.
Read also: Why EDF loses nearly 100,000 customers per month
"
Today EDF is going against the wall if we are not able to give it the means to invest
", declared the minister during his wishes to the press, adding that his "
level of debt is not a sustainable debt level
”.
“
My responsibility as Minister of the Economy and Finance is to give EDF (...) the means to develop and remain one of the largest energy companies on the planet.
That is the objective,
”he insisted, denying any desire for“
dismantling
”.
“Unsuccessful” discussions with Brussels
EDF CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy was tasked in 2018 by the public authorities with proposing a reorganization plan for the company, which is nearly 84% owned by the State.
This project, called Hercule, could result in a split of EDF into three entities: a public company (EDF bleu) for nuclear power plants, another (EDF vert) listed on the stock exchange for the distribution of electricity and renewable energies. , and a third (EDF Azure) which would cover the hydroelectric dams.
Read also: Hercules, this project that arouses the discontent of EDF employees
But the project has fallen behind schedule, being subject to progress in discussions between France and Brussels, particularly on nuclear power.
According to Bruno Le Maire, these discussions "
are not yet complete
", but he undertakes to report to the trade unions on the situation "as
soon as we have a clearer vision of the final position of the European Commission
".
"
On this subject, today we are not there yet
", he said.
In a statement released Tuesday, the CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC and FO unions once again asked the government "
to give up the Hercules project
" which "
would lead to the de facto disintegration
" of the company.