PARIS (awp/afp) – The former boss of EDF Henri Proglio assured that he would not leave his functions within Rosatom, Russian public giant of the nuclear sector, noting that “nobody” had asked him to do so , in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche.
“Let’s be clear: I do not intend to resign”, assures Mr. Proglio who indicates that he sits on the international board of Rosatom alongside other foreigners (Italian, Finnish, Japanese, Spanish) and that “none of them, (his) acquaintance has not withdrawn”. “Nobody had the idea to ask me that”.
“I am neither a politician like François Fillon, nor an administrator like he was until recently. In short, my situation has nothing to do with his,” he adds, with reference to the decision of the former Prime Minister, announced at the end of February, to resign from his mandates in the boards of directors of the Russians Sibur and Zarubezhneft, in the face of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
“It annoys me when people say that I work for the Russian government or that I receive huge attendance fees. This mission brings me 2,000 euros per month (…). Last week, I was in Moscow for Rosatom, since then everything has stopped”, explains Mr. Proglio, ensuring that his role is limited to a dialogue “on the issues related to the atom”.
Furthermore, “I would like to remind you that Rosatom has been using and buying Arabelle turbines for its power plants for a long time, manufactured by Alstom then General Electric, it is even its main customer. I also remind you that EDF is going to buy this nuclear activity. We would therefore do well to think about,” he said.
In 2015, Henri Proglio had renounced the non-executive presidency of the Thales group on the eve of the General Assembly which was to appoint him, denouncing a “campaign” of Bercy. The Ministry of the Economy, headed by Emmanuel Macron, then judged that its relations with Rosatom were likely to create “conflicts” of interest.
“I was chairman of Veolia and EDF, I was not going to fight to chair Thales. I don’t like being given ultimatums or being told what to do and more broadly that my freedom is curbed,” said Mr. Proglio, questioned about this episode by the JDD.
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