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Update: Market Chatter: Strike by EDF Workers in France Takes 6.5 GW of Power Offline

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(Adds confirmation, comment from EDF in fifth and sixth paragraphs.)

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.

EDF, confirming the strike and generation cuts in an email to, said that the benefit was important to its employees, but that it considered it necessary to place some limitations on it and incentivize more cautious consumption.

The company said it would provide more details on the impact of the strike on the power network later on Tuesday.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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