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France's EDF struggles to seal long-term power offers due to low rates

French energy huge EDF has sold just a tiny part of its future power output in longterm auctions because low electrical power costs are curbing demand, Ceo Luc Rémont stated on Friday.

The comments validate a ' report, which stated the state-owned power company has struggled to discover purchasers for its long-lasting electrical energy agreements, threatening its long-lasting financial resources and ability to keep its aging nuclear plants running.

What is clear is that when short-term prices drop at the rate we have seen over the previous 2 months, we have not seen very much demand emerge, he stated at a media briefing after the business released 2023 outcomes.

The debt-laden group has sold 1 terawatt-hour (TWh) at auctions for contracts over four to five years, he added. It produced 320.4 TWh of power in France in 2023.

He said the company has a reserve rate for the auctions to ensure it does not cost a loss, however he did not disclose its level.

Demand needs to increase for us to provide more volumes for sale, he said.

The absence of forward offers will restore issues about the company's long-term business outlook after its nationalisation last June.

EDF requires those offers to support its finances and reduce dangers of rate swings so it can invest to extend the life of its 56 atomic power plants and build at least 6 more.

A power price deal which EDF

concurred

with the government in November intends to stabilise electrical energy costs for industrial and retail clients at 70 euros per megawatt-hour

(source: Reuters)