Electricite de France SA expects recent strike action and maintenance work at some of its reactors to drag nuclear output for the year, adding to an energy squeeze ahead of the winter.
EDF
EDF,
which is slated soon to be fully nationalized by the French government, said late Thursday that it now sees 2022 nuclear output at some 275-285 terawatt hours, against a previous expectation for 280-300TWh. The reduced outlook comes following strike action that delayed maintenance work at some of its reactors earlier in the fall, as well as outage extensions at reactors being repaired for corrosion problems, EDF said.
Nuclear output for 2023 and 2024 is still estimated at 300-330TWh and 315-345TWh, respectively, EDF said.
The utility has been forced repeatedly to slash production and earnings guidance for the year after corrosion was discovered on pipes at its reactors, at a time when Europe’s energy supplies are already under pressure from a cut in natural-gas deliveries from Russia. Last month, transmission-system operator RTE warned that the strike action by reactor workers demanding higher wages could endanger national electricity supply this winter.
Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby
