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Nuclear power plant in Fessenheim: Work on the last reactor completed in February
Photo: Patrick Seeger/dpa
France's re-nationalized electricity company EDF restarted its nuclear power production after fixing problems at its power plants last year and made a profit of ten billion euros. 15 of the 16 nuclear power plants affected by corrosion damage were back in operation at the end of 2023 and work on the last reactor was due to be completed in February, EDF announced when presenting its annual figures on Friday. Of the 56 French nuclear power plants, 46 were in operation at the beginning of the year, compared to just 30 just over a year ago. Nuclear power production increased to 320.4 terawatt hours in 2023.
The technical problems and the energy price brake imposed by the state resulted in a loss of 17.9 billion euros for EDF in 2022. Nuclear power production fell to 279 terawatt hours, the lowest level in 30 years. Production is expected to be between 315 and 345 terawatt hours this year, and between 335 and 365 terawatt hours in 2025 and 2026. In 2023, EDF was also able to increase its hydroelectric power production again, which had been affected by the hot and dry summer the previous year.
For its future electricity supply, France is relying primarily on the expansion of offshore wind power and a renaissance in nuclear power. Six new nuclear power plants are to be built and the construction of eight additional power plants is to be examined.
mik/dpa AFX