EDF: Lobbying

Background

Electricité de France (EDF) aims to become one of the most powerful energy companies in Europe. [1]

Its subsidiary EDF Energy is already one of the largest energy companies in the UK, employing more than 11,000 people, and supplying gas and electricity to about a quarter of the country’s population.

In recent years it has bought the firms SWEB Energy and Seeboard Energy, and now owns the Sutton Bridge, West Burton and Cottam power stations, and the TXU and Seeboard networks businesses.

Nuclear

EDF is the largest supplier of nuclear energy in France, running 58 reactors on 19 sites, which produce 83 per cent of the country’s energy.

In October 2004, EDF announced that it would build a prototype €3bn next-generation European Pressurised Water Reactor on the Normandy coast. EDF claimed the new reactor would be safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than those already in use. [2]

The company is also involved in nuclear power in the USA and China.

It has at least two contracts with Britsh firms BNFL and AMEC. [3] [4] [5]

PR and lobbying

EDF is playing a key role in pushing for new nuclear power stations in the UK.

Private Eye (issue 1151, p8) reported in February 2006 that Chancellor Gordon Brown’s younger brother Andrew Brown is EDF Energy’s Head of Press. Brown junior previously worked for the lobbying company Weber Shandwick. [1]

In November 2005, EFD’s Chief Executive, Vincent de Rivaz, told a parliamentary committee that new nuclear power stations could be built within ten years if planning and licensing laws are relaxed.

In evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, he said that new nuclear power stations should be built to help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, increase security of supply and lower energy price volatility. [6]

EDF was behind a widely-reported MORI poll, published in November 2005, which claimed that the ‘majority of people now believe nuclear power has a vital role to play in meeting Britain's energy requirements and in reducing carbon dioxide emissions’. The poll also showed that the majority of people (76 per cent) believe nuclear plants are vulnerable to terrorist attack, and more than half think that atomic energy causes dangerous pollution. [7]

This poll was the main focus of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy at its 25 January 2006 meeting. An advance notice of the meeting stated: “The meeting will focus on the findings of recent MORI polling that shows how Parliamentarians and the public view nuclear power today. The study compares the most recent results to those of previous years, and tracks the way attitudes towards nuclear power have shifted. Robert Knight, Research Director at Ipsos MORI will present the key information produced during the studies and Keith Parker, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), will provide a briefing on how the industry hopes to learn from and build on this evidence in the year ahead.� [8]

EDF uses the lobbying firm AS Biss and Co. [9]

Who runs EDF?

Non-Executive Directors: Daniel Camus (Chairman), Yann Laroche, Didier Calvez, Gerard Menjon

Chief Executive: Vincent de Rivaz

Chief Financial Officer: Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson

Company Secretary: Thibaut Brac de la Perriere