EDF Scales Back Overseas Nuclear Plans to Focus on €67 Billion French Build-Out

Électricité de France is preparing to scale back its international nuclear ambitions and reduce headcount in its global sales operation, according to people familiar with the matter. About 60 positions, including roughly 10 managerial roles, are slated for elimination as the state-backed utility concentrates resources on projects closer to home. Under Chief Executive Officer Bernard Fontana, appointed in April, EDF plans to shelve or de-prioritise bids for new reactors in India, Canada, Poland and several other non-European markets. The company instead intends to confine future bids to France and a handful of European countries—namely the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland—where executives believe it has a stronger chance of winning tenders. EDF’s retreat comes as France embarks on a €67 billion programme to build six reactors to replace ageing plants and bolster energy security. The utility, burdened by heavy debt and recent cost overruns on overseas projects, aims to redirect staff and capital toward this domestic build-out while maintaining profitability on its remaining international commitments.