Fontana confirmed on the head of EDF | EUROtoday
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C ‘is completed. Bernard Fontana, polytechnician on the CV lower for industrial giants, was confirmed this Wednesday on the head of EDF by the committees of financial affairs of the National Assembly and the Senate. A vote with out suspense, however on the wire: 55 parliamentarians spoke in favor of the appointment and 40 in opposition to, the LR senators having turned across the final minute, not like their colleagues from the National Assembly.
“Several senators have changed their vote after his hearing. They found it without charisma and unconvincing on the future price of electricity, ”says a supply on the Palais-Bourbon. Insoumise France (LFI), which supposed to make this poll a referendum in opposition to multi -year power programming (PPE), presently beneath dialogue, has spoken out in opposition to. But three fifths of the voters would have taken to oppose his appointment in order that Bernard Fontana was not confirmed. Succeeding Luc Rémont, ejected in March, the ex-boss of Framatome due to this fact takes the reins of a fragile large, in a very tense context.
To perceive this, a flashback is important. In 2022, Luc Rémont inherited an EDF in tatters: nuclear manufacturing in free fall (at 279 TWh), abyssal debt and a reactor park on the cease. In two years, he straightens the bar. 361.7 TWh of electrical energy is produced in 2024, the supply of the park dates again 74 % and the development program for future EPR2 is on observe. But its beak with the state, on the costs of electrical energy and the slowness of the nuclear program, value it dearly. Bernard Fontana, whose needy and discreet profile is greeted internally, appears to be calibrated to execute with out making waves.
Fontana, the factories
At the age of 64, this former SNPE, ArcelorMittal, Cemenier Holcim and Framatoma just isn’t a showman. But he is aware of the economic world intimately, the factories of the sector and the boys who make it. At Framatome, he decreased accidents, muscular high quality and decreased debt. In entrance of the parliamentarians, in a peaceful and exact tone, he rolled out a sq. roadmap: he targets a nuclear manufacturing of 400 TWh by 2030, of which 40 TWh (minimal) will probably be reserved for electro-intensive industrialists by way of long-term contracts, and guarantees an in depth quote from the six EPR2 by the tip of 2025, the development of which will probably be partly funded by a state mortgage. “Competitive electricity for all is my obsession,” he insisted within the Assembly, additionally promising 20 % as well as hydroelectric capability. “The time factor is essential in the cost,” he insisted, conscious of previous slippages.
On the size of the event of wind and photo voltaic capacities, the topic of harsh battles between political teams, he started to care for prudent silence, which bristled the rapporteur LFI Matthias Tavel, denouncing too gradual EPR2 (2035-2038) and costly (100 €/MWh). “Your all-nuclear ignores the renewables and can make the French pay. »»
A strain colossus
To uncover
The kangaroo of the day
Answer
Fontana inherits an EDF in restoration however fragile. With 54 billion euros in money owed, the corporate should juggle between the upkeep of an getting older park, the development of EPR2 (67.4 billion estimated) and the large electrification of makes use of. Negotiations with Brussels on funding and post-Arenh costs look troublesome. And, if Fontana places on nuclear as a vertebral column, the long run stability of the electrical combine is nonetheless unknown, the event trajectory of wind and photo voltaic not but stopped – therefore the delay taken by the PPE.
His appointment will probably be formalized by decree after the overall meeting of EDF on May 5.
https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/fontana-confirme-a-la-tete-d-edf-30-04-2025-2588599_20.php