PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron and Elisabeth Borne will choose the next EDF boss in the coming days from a list of names sent to them, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, said on Tuesday.
The French State announced in July its intention to launch a takeover bid at 12 euros per share on the approximately 16% of EDF’s capital that it does not yet hold and to replace its CEO, Jean-Bernard Lévy, while the group is faced with a historically low availability of its nuclear fleet, which is aggravating the energy crisis in Europe.
“We have made our choice on a certain number of names, I have submitted these names to the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic, who will decide in the coming days who will lead EDF”, said Bruno Le Maire on BFMTV and RMC. .
According to Le Figaro, Luc Rémont, in charge of international operations at Schneider Electric, “stands out as the big favorite for general management”.
EDF observers and sources inside the group interviewed by Reuters have also cited several other potential candidates for the management of the company in recent weeks, including Patrice Caine, CEO of Thales and Philippe Knoche, CEO of Orano. .
Bruno Bensasson, director of the renewable energy division of EDF and Cédric Lewandowski, director of the nuclear and thermal park, were also cited. According to two sources, however, it is likely that the State will opt for an external candidate in order to mark a break in the operation of the company.
Thirty of the 56 reactors in the French nuclear fleet are currently shut down for maintenance operations or corrosion problems, which is helping to keep electricity prices at record levels as Europe seeks to do without Russian gas and that France, usually the largest exporter of electricity in the region, has become a net importer.
Some analysts also believe that forecasts for restarting EDF reactors by winter may prove to be too optimistic and that France could be forced to ration electricity to meet its own needs.
Emmanuel Macron reacted strongly on Monday to criticism aimed at him over the maintenance of the French nuclear fleet, targeting his political opponents and, without naming him, Jean-Bernard Lévy.
(Report Benjamin Mallet and Elizabeth Pineau, with Myriam Rivet, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)