Macron: the state has taken too dividend at EDF – Le Figaro

Minister of Economy Emmanuel Macron told the JDD why it excluded a postponement of several years of the project Hinkley Point as demanded by EDF unions.

the EDF electricity giant in September will give its final green light to the controversial project to build two EPR nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in the UK, announced the Minister of Emmanuel Macron Economy in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche . “The president confirmed the commitment of France” in the project, and the “final investment decision will be confirmed next September” by the electrician, Mr. Macron said in JDD .

While its final investment decision was expected in early May, the EDF group, owned nearly 85% by the state, announced Friday that its central works council ( CEC) would be consulted on this issue, as demanded by the unions. An approach which amounts de facto to push EDF’s decision several weeks or months. The group, which had already postponed multiple recovery, said Friday was not the extent of the new deadline.

“The investment in the two reactors Hinkley Point represent the equivalent of EDF investment year. This does not will shake its financial trajectory “, also defended the minister, pushing back a withdrawal of France from this mega-project that raises many critics including within the group.

He this colossal project cost (over 23 billion) will promote French technology “face to our US competitors, Chinese or Russian,” is “necessary for EDF’s presence in Britain” and preserve the “competences” of the national nuclear industry. The statement came after the announcement Friday of a proposed bailout of the group of up to 4 billion euros in total, including 3 billion provided by the state. “This is a necessary investment for the overhaul of the sector”, he considers.

In addition, the minister said that the state had received “too much” on the part of dividends EDF over the past decade (20 billion in all), hence the decision of the Government to be paid for three years in the form of shares, which will enable the group to save 2 billion euros. also questioned the financing of recapitalization of EDF and Areva, the other pillar of the French nuclear industry, which amount to at least EUR 6 billion, Emmanuel Macron spoke assignment – already underway – Shares of State at airports Nice and Lyon, and “other operations” that he has not specified

the Minister of Economy is on all fronts. in an interview for Arte, he said he had launched his own political movement “in March” because “the left today,” not the “satisfa (isait) not.” “I’m not lying to people, I say what I think, I said from the beginning. I left, that’s my story. But the left today does not satisfy me, “said Emmanuel Macron in the interview conducted two days before the launch of its motion April 13 and extracts of which are published on the internet.