EDF To Receive €400M In Compensation For Fessenheim Shutdown, Reports Say

25 Aug (NucNet): France’s state-controlled nuclear operator EDF will receive “at least” €400m ($450m) in compensation from the French government for closing the two units of the Fessenheim nuclear power station in Alsace, north-eastern France, Bloomberg reported quoting unnamed sources close to the issue. According to Bloomberg, the compensation amount is about four times higher than what the government initially considered and will be delivered in several payments over the next two decades depending on future power prices. Bloomberg said the agreement is “preliminary” and must be presented to EDF’s workers committee on 14 September and also be reviewed by the board of directors. There have not been any official comments from EDF or the French government so far. Earlier reports said the Fessenheim nuclear station will be permanently shut down in 2017. The reports followed comments by energy minister Ségolène Royal, who said the two-unit station, which began commercial operation in 1978, will close once the Flamanville-3 EPR under construction in northern France is completed, which is scheduled for the end of 2018. Bloomberg said that in June 2016 Ms Royal offered to compensate EDF for the planned shutdown with a fixed sum of as much as €100m plus possible subsequent payments. Also in June 2016, EDF shut down Fessenheim-2 because of irregularities detected on equipment manufactured in the past at Areva’s Le Creusot forging facility.