EDF sent the government its file on
“the feasibility and the conditions”
of a program to build six new EPR nuclear reactors, the new generation reactors.
"We would like a decision to be taken on the construction of new EPRs in France
,
"
EDF CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy recalled Thursday at the general meeting of shareholders.
Emmanuel Macron conditioned a possible order on the commissioning of the first French EPR reactor, Flamanville 3. Delayed by manufacturing problems, it is scheduled for 2023.
Read also:
EDF reaches a milestone for its six EPR nuclear reactors in India
The boss of EDF also raised the hot topic of the reorganization of the group. Discussions on this subject between the government and the European Commission are
"extremely difficult
," said Jean-Bernard Lévy.
There is nothing to suggest that they will be able to succeed quickly, nor to think that they could not succeed. We remain suspended from the outcome of these discussions, ”
he added. At the end of April, a source familiar with the matter indicated that
“the two parties agree on the need to go quickly”
. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire is due to travel to Brussels early next week to meet Commission Vice-President in charge of competition, Margrethe Vestager.
Read also:
EDF: the common front of the unions against the reorganization
But Bruno Le Maire must also convince the unions to support the reorganization. He ended Thursday a second round of bilateral meetings with the national officials of the CGT, CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO.
"The passage is very difficult between the demands of the inter-union united against the project, those of the Commission and those of the direction of EDF"
, explains in the entourage of the Minister. The unions have learned from these meetings that the government was
"ready to take time"
and
"does not want to go through in force"
, as reported by the leader of the CFDT Energy, Dominique Bousquenaud.
"We do not want to lock ourselves in either a reform scheme or a timetable,"
said a spokesperson for the minister.
