Bloomberg: France may stop electricity exports to Italy due to the decline in production
France may impose a two-year moratorium on electricity exports to Italy, as state-controlled EDF struggles with declining production from its nuclear plants, exacerbating a severe energy crisis at a time when Europe is heading towards winter.
A spokeswoman for the Italian Energy Transition Ministry said today, Saturday, that Italy is already working on plans to compensate for any supply cut after receiving written notice of a possible halt by EDF, confirming an earlier report by the Italian La Repubblica newspaper.
A spokesman for EDF didn’t make any immediate comment.
Nuclear power production by EDF is set to fall to its lowest level in more than three decades as it struggles to maintain its aging plants, turning Europe’s traditionally largest electricity exporter into a net importer.
The electricity shortage is exacerbating an existing energy crisis across Europe after Russia cut gas supplies to the continent.
According to the Italian national energy company Terna, the country imports about 13% of its electricity.
France provides about 5% of the country’s annual consumption.
