French power output down 10% as a third of workforce strikes

Record ID: 1433047

  • Title: French power output down 10% as a third of workforce strikes
  • Date: 19th September 2019
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EDF WORKERS ON STRIKE PROTESTING AGAINST RESTRUCTURING PLAN AND HOLDING BANNER READING (French): "NO TO THE DISMANTLING OF EDF. NO TO THE 'PROJECT HERCULE'" BACK OF PROTESTER'S VEST READING (French): "EDF-GDF 100% PUBLIC" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) CFDT LABOUR UNION DELEGATE AT EDF, ERIC LEMOINE, SAYING: "The message we would like to send to Macron's government is about the indecency of this project, which has no economic or industrial or even any social advantage. Today, EDF enables the total supply (of power) for France as well as energy independence. Tomorrow, we have no guarantee of this energy independence, which is crucial and a vital commodity for citizens." PROTESTERS WITH CFDT LABOUR UNION VESTS
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2019 14:30
  • Keywords: France Emmanuel Macron EDF workers on strike restructuring plan French power generation nuclear power plant
  • Location: PARIS, NOGENT-SUR-SEINE, FESSENHEIM AND FLAMANVILLE, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, NOGENT-SUR-SEINE, FESSENHEIM AND FLAMANVILLE, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AXBQVD3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A third of EDF's workforce in France went on strike on Thursday (September 19) to protest a restructuring plan, the state-controlled utility said, sending French power generation down by more than 10 percent.
    EDF said that about 20,000 workers in France had joined the industrial action at midday in one of the biggest strike turnouts at the company in eight years.
    The strike has reduced power generation by some 6 gigawatts, affecting output in several nuclear, hydro and gas-fired power plants. The strike is due to end on Thursday evening.
    Power station outages will not knock out the grid or hit households, although cuts in power output are costly for EDF as it has to import any shortfall from overseas.
    EDF workers are protesting against plans steered by the French government to restructure and potentially split the heavily-indebted group, with its nuclear power generation business set to one side.
    The strike was more disruptive than previous stoppages, with four unions representing a majority of France's energy workers joining forces behind the walkout this time. Previously, the unions have not acted together.
    (Production: Antony Paone and Pascale Antonie)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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