Electrician did not specify whether this downward revision of nuclear production would have repercussions on its financial results.
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EDF readjusts its forecasts. The group announced Thursday, November 3 to lower its nuclear production for the year 2022, due in particular to the prolonged shutdown of four reactors for corrosion issues. The company forecasts 275-285 TWh (terawatt hours) of nuclear generation in 2022, up from 280-300 TWh previously forecast.
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This revision is linked in particular to “the extension of the shutdown period of four nuclear reactors concerned by the program of inspections and repairs of the stress corrosion phenomenon”, explains EDF. The energy giant, of which nearly half of the reactors are unavailable, also questioned the social movement of the fall of 2022 in the power stations which had an impact “on maintenance shutdown schedules”.
A risk to the group’s financial health
In addition to this reassessment, EDF did not specify whether this downward revision of nuclear production would have repercussions on its financial results. Last week, the group nevertheless expected a further worsening of the financial impact due to the drop in nuclear production to the tune of 32 billion euros on its gross operating surplus (Ebitda), an accounting indicator of profitability.
EDF’s production reached a historically low level due to the unavailability of almost half of the 56 reactors in the nuclear fleet (only 29 are operational), shut down for planned maintenance or suspected corrosion problems or proven. Over the first nine months of the year, nuclear production in France amounted to 209.2 TWh, or 59 TWh less than in the same period in 2021.