The EDF group is reorganising its nuclear business to improve efficiency in preparation for planned government investment in the nuclear power sector. In 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the revival of the French nuclear industry and the planned construction of six new EPR2 type reactors. The first was to be commissioned by 2035 at the latest.
In 2023, the French nationalised EDF, buying those shares it did not already own and delisting its shares from the stock market. EDF CEO Luc Remont in July 2023 informed managers that the group's nuclear activities would be reorganised to redress the recurring problems that led to production cuts in 2022. EDF had faced a series of technical and political, resulting in nuclear reactor outages that exacerbated Europe's energy crisis in the wake of sanctions placed on Russian oil and gas. The outages reduced 2022 nuclear power output to the lowest level since 1988.
In January, France’s Minister for Energy Transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, said a new draft law on energy security would propose construction of eight more EPR reactors in addition to the six already planned. The text sets ambitious targets for the deployment of nuclear and renewables. “It breaks with the previous programming law, which reduced the share of nuclear power in the electrical mix to 50% by 2025 [the date was amended to 2035 in 2019]”, she noted.
EDF said the new organisation of its nuclear business and of the Innovation, Corporate Responsibility & Strategy Directorate aimed at grouping expertise and skills into major specialisms, placing methods on an “industrial” footing to improve performance, and reinforcing cross-functional working within the company. The changes came into effect on 1 April.
EDF’s nuclear business was organised into four directorates and one unit. The Strategy, Technologies, Innovation & Development Directorate brings together strategic activities relating to preparation for the future and planning at Group level. It acts as project owner for nuclear construction projects, drives nuclear development at international level, and constitutes the technical authority. This Directorate is headed by Xavier Ursat.
The Projects & Construction Directorate acts as prime contractor for major new nuclear projects, in accordance with the industrial safety, nuclear safety, quality, cost and deadline framework and objectives, up to the handover to operations teams. It is headed by Thierry Le Mouroux.
The Engineering & Supply Chain Directorate is responsible for delivering studies, equipment and services in line with quality, cost and deadline requirements, while harmonising methods, tools and product/process reference standards for new projects and for the existing fleet. This Directorate brings together the nuclear engineering entities, and activities linked to suppliers. It is headed by Alain Tranzer.
The Nuclear & Thermal Generation Directorate is responsible for the operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the existing nuclear and thermal fleets and for new projects entering service, in France. It continues to roll out, in particular, the Grand Carénage (major plant relift) and START 2025 programmes. Cedric Lewandowski heads this Directorate.
The Industry & Services Unit manages operational design/analysis, manufacturing and industrial services activities for the nuclear steam supply system, fuel, and instrumentation and control systems (Framatome). The unit is headed by Bernard Fontana.
The newly appointed Directorate and Unit heads all hold the rank of Group Senior Executive Vice President.
In addition, the Impact Directorate is joining the Financial Directorate within a new Performance, Impact, Investment & Finance Directorate to be headed by Group Senior Executive Vice President Xavier Girre. The Regulations Directorate has been placed under the Group General Secretary, which is responsible for the Group Legal division, Public & European affairs divisions. Brice Bohuon continues in the role of Group Senior Executive Vice-President, Group General Secretary.
Luc Rémont, EDF Group Chairman & CEO, said: “We are currently seeing an unprecedented recovery in nuclear power, which brings considerable challenges for EDF. We have to continue operating our existing fleet beyond the 40-year mark, while also successfully building the new EPRs, developing our future SMR [ Nuward small modular reactor] product, and increasing the pace of work on projects currently in the pipeline.”
He added: “Against this backdrop, our organisation and the way we work is evolving, to deliver further improvements in performance, and ensure that our nuclear projects are successful. We must achieve the best possible level of performance in each of our major specialisms.”
