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French electricity production is reduced due to a strike over wages and pensions

Data from EDF showed that the electricity output of the French utility was cut by 2.6 gigawatts on early Wednesday morning. This was due to workers cutting power production as part of an industrial action aimed at pensions and wages in the gas and power sector.

The industrial action is expected to expand in the next few weeks due to the low approval rating of the government. It faces a vote of confidence on Monday.

The data revealed that nuclear power production fell by 2.1 GW, with three reactors being affected. Hydropower production also decreased by 510 megawatts.

France's total nuclear capacity is 57 GW, and it produces 70% of its annual electricity.

Data from grid operator RTE indicated that France will remain a net exporter of power throughout the day. The affected supply at 0900 GMT was 4,2% of the total production.

A spokesperson for Belgian Gas Terminal Operator Fluxys stated that the industrial action in the gas sector has only had a small impact on certain work currently being done.

The spokesperson stated that there was no impact on output flow rates, nor on the ship unloading or truck loading operations.

Dunkirk LNG is the second-largest terminal in continental Europe. It's the only one that connects directly to two markets, Belgium and France. This terminal accounts for around 20% of the annual gas consumption of both countries. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis, Philippa Fletcher and Forrest Crellin)

(source: Reuters)