In Germany, there is a heated discussion as to whether the remaining three nuclear power plants should run longer in view of the energy crisis. France, on the other hand, is going full steam ahead. The state is paying almost ten billion euros for the complete nationalization of the nuclear power company EDF. The utility is already 84 percent state-owned. Two weeks ago, the government announced that it also wanted to take over the remaining 14 percent. EDF is heavily indebted and is also struggling with drastic cost increases at its new nuclear power plants in France and Great Britain. The photo shows the control panel in the control room of a reactor building in Flamanville in northern France. This pressurized water reactor, which has been under construction for years, has also become many billions of euros more expensive than planned. There are also defects in a number of older reactors. According to EDF, France will be able to produce less electricity in 2022 than it has in about 30 years. Despite its large arsenal of 56 reactors, the country has to import electricity for the first time in the summer. The state wants to offer EDF shareholders, including employees, twelve euros per share certificate. That’s a good 50 percent higher price than two weeks ago, but far less than 32 euros. The share was introduced to the stock exchange in 2005 at this price.
Nuclear power – Paris pays ten billion euros for the complete nationalization of EDF – economy
