Electricity: the State will obtain 100% of the capital of EDF on June 8

Today holder of at least 98.04% of the capital of the energy supplier EDF (Electricity, Gas and Services), it is from Thursday, June 8 that the French State will become the one and only shareholder. But what does that imply? Bruno Le Maire explains this decision by indicating that “This will allow us to carry out the construction program for six new EPRs (latest generation nuclear reactors, editor’s note) in the best possible conditions”.

For the Minister of Economy and Finance, taking control of 100% of the capital of the energy group would also make it possible to “take back control of our electricity production”, and therefore to strengthen “the country’s energy independence”, as he reports to our colleagues at RTL this Tuesday morning. A very controversial renationalization because it displeases small shareholders, but which has already been discussed and approved by the Government and EDF.

The French Government is now looking for “options” to finance this project, which costs 9.7 billion euros. Nevertheless, for Bruno Le Maire, “we have a little time to define these solutions” because they will only be necessary “from 2026”.

During this exchange with journalist Amandine Bégot, Bruno Le Maire explains to us that the decision to make France, again, the sole shareholder of EDF, would allow households and businesses to save money. Indeed, “it will allow us to produce more, to build the reactors in the best possible conditions and therefore to have a price that is as low as possible, that’s the objective”, he says. .

The renationalisation would also represent an advantage for the energy group. Indeed, it also aims to “guarantee the unity of EDF”, adds the Minister of Economy and Finance. The State still has a requirement towards EDF which is that the group “increase its production of nuclear electricity and return as quickly as possible to the 350 terra water which are necessary today for our country”, as Bruno asserts. The mayor.