by Benjamin Mallet and Elizabeth Pineau
PARIS (Reuters) – EDF CEO Luc Rémont on Thursday announced to executives at the utility a plan to reorganize nuclear operations to address their efficiency issues, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters.
While French nuclear production in 2022 reached its lowest level since 1988, due to maintenance operations and corrosion problems, this is the first major project launched by the CEO since the State once again became EDF’s sole shareholder at the beginning of July.
According to one of the sources, Luc Rémont is thus showing his desire to build his strategic plan, which the State has ordered from him for the first half of the year, without waiting for government decisions on the future financing of the company, which is facing heavy investments to extend its nuclear fleet and build at least six new EPR2 type reactors in France.
“Discussions with the State continue. And also with Brussels on the existing nuclear power and on the EPR2 program. Luc Rémont said that it was not going to prevent us from transforming ourselves, from reorganizing ourselves, no need to wait for white smoke on the side of the Elysée”, said this source, after having attended a meeting between the CEO and the “top 300” managers of EDF.
The same source, as well as another who did not attend the meeting, added that the nuclear management would be redistricted and that five “forerunners” were tasked with making proposals quickly, including the current head of the nuclear fleet. , Cedric Lewandowski; that of new nuclear projects, Xavier Ursat; and Alain Tranzer, delegate for industrial quality and nuclear skills.
An EDF spokesman confirmed the reorganization announcement but declined to go into details.
“What has been announced foreshadows a profound change. The group’s desire is to implement an industrialization of performance with a clear definition of the responsibilities of the businesses to achieve the right industrial pace,” he said.
The government has placed the recovery of French nuclear production, as well as better management of the major projects carried out by EDF, at the top of the priorities of Luc Rémont, appointed in November 2022 to replace Jean-Bernard Lévy.
(Edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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