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Michael Kläsgen
That’s remarkable: the European Union has just awarded nuclear power the eco-seal – essentially at the instigation of France. That could now mean that nuclear power is becoming more attractive to investors. In addition, shortly after the EU decision, the French government decided to alienate nuclear shareholders. Paris wants to completely nationalize the group EDF, Électricité de France. EDF is not just any company, but Europe’s largest nuclear company. It was founded in 1946, has 167,000 employees and generates sales of 84 billion euros. EDF is the symbol of France’s deep-seated belief in nuclear power: a monopolist surrounded by dozens of small-time competitors that still produces 69 percent of France’s electricity today. It supplies the vast majority of all households in France. There are electric heaters under the windows of many apartments. The heat dissipates easily. But electricity was cheap for a long time, thanks to government-regulated tariffs.