EDF says strike hits a 3rd of French nuclear vegetation, delaying upkeep work By Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – Strike motion over wage calls for was hitting a 3rd of EDF (EPA:)’s 18 French nuclear vegetation as of Friday night time, a spokesperson for the utility stated, additional delaying the upkeep of its reactors.

“Six websites (had been) affected by strikes as of final night time,” the spokesperson stated on Saturday.

This led to the postponement of the restart date of 5 reactors at present below upkeep by “one to a number of days”, the spokesperson for EDF added.

Nuclear energy represented greater than two thirds of France’s complete electrical energy manufacturing in 2021, in accordance with information from grid operator RTE.

The nation will likely be wanting between 5 and 15 gigawatts (GW) of energy at peak demand this winter relying on the temperature and might want to primarily depend on imports, in accordance with forecast fashions developed by EDF’s works council CSE.

France must purchase electrical energy in the marketplace this winter or produce it from gasoline, and there’s no assure that neighbouring nations will likely be ready to promote their electrical energy, CSE consultant Philippe Web page le Merour has stated, given the power disaster in Europe.

A consultant for France’s FNME commerce union stated on Friday that upkeep work at 9 nuclear reactors cut up between 5 websites had been delayed as a result of a strike over wages.