Political crisis jeopardizes publication of France's energy roadmap

The third Multi-Year Energy Program (PPE) aims to move away from fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, thanks to greater availability of the French nuclear fleet and the construction of new EPR2 type reactors.

The text, which covers the period 2025-2035, marks a break with the previous PPE, which provided for the closure of 12 new reactors.

The government had promised to publish a decree on this PPE3 "before the end of the summer," but the issue is tearing the political class apart due to deep differences over the place of nuclear power and renewable energies in France's energy mix.

The issue gave rise to a heated exchange within the government itself, when Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called in early July for an end to "public subsidies" for wind and photovoltaic power.

The situation is all the more complex as another text on France's energy future, the so-called Gremillet bill, which enshrines a massive revival of nuclear power and is supposed to help the executive finalize its decree, is due to resume its parliamentary shuttle at the start of the school year.

All this against the backdrop of threats of censorship from the National Rally. "If we see that François Bayrou wants to publish PPE3 by decree, bypassing national representation, it will be a casus belli," warned RN MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy in June.

Marc Ferracci, Minister of Energy, who spared no effort to have this decree published, had indicated that its publication would not wait for the end of the Gremillet PPL shuttle.

But its publication in the Official Journal at the end of July was postponed by decision of the Prime Minister, "so that the necessary consultation and discussions can be carried out." François Bayrou has assured that he wants to publish it in "August, September," because "the current PPE (...) provided for the massive reduction of nuclear-generated electricity."

A "poison" for the industry

"If we want to make the necessary investments, both for nuclear power, nuclear power plants, and for renewable energy (...) there must be a new PPE," the Prime Minister stressed.

The text as it should have been published maintained, but shifted them in time, the objectives for the production of renewable electricity.

For the energy sector, the prospect of another postponement is a nightmare. The text, already awaited for two years, is essential for launching calls for tenders, securing investments, planning infrastructure, and anticipating training and employment needs.

"France has no energy policy," thundered Catherine MacGregor, CEO of Engie, this week at the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, the annual summer gathering of the French employers' association Medef (French employers' association). "We failed to pass a PPE, even though it has been so hotly debated. We've been talking about it for four years."

"We once again find ourselves without a clear energy policy framework, in a state of uncertainty," Jules Nyssen, president of the Renewable Energy Union (SER), told AFP. "Especially nuclear power," he added, because "the new nuclear program is not listed anywhere."

EDF, whose sole shareholder is the French government, has not commented. However, a source close to the nuclear industry emphasizes that "it's good to have a PPE; it gives the sector visibility."

The Ministry of Energy is pushing for publication before September 8th. "There is a very, very strong plea for publication of the PPE before the 8th to be able to move forward on this issue, which has been dragging on for four years," Marc Ferracci's entourage said. The minister deplored the political instability on Thursday, calling it "poison" for the industry.

"This PPE was frankly torpedoed this year for reasons that never cease to amaze me," lamented Catherine MacGregor, lamenting an "extremely strong anti-wind campaign."