A strike by French workers in the power sector resulted in 6.5 gigawatts of generation being taken offline in the first hours of Monday, according to Reuters, citing Electricite de France, or EDF, data.
The strike action, expected to cause impacts until at least Tuesday, related to cuts to employee benefits including reduced-cost power, led to reductions in output at seven nuclear reactors with some gas-fired and hydroelectric generation also curbed, the article said.
France, with a 57-strong nuclear reactor fleet is a major exporter of power to its neighbors and that role has taken on greater importance at a time of volatile fossil fuel markets and high gas prices.
The strike action arose after the French Court of Auditors estimated that reduced-cost power for employees and retired employees cost more than $800 million in lost revenue in 2024 and recommended ending the benefit as the company grapples with hefty investment needs.
has emailed EDF seeking confirmation and comment.
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