EDF: Lobbying

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Background

Electricite 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. [2]


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. [3]

Nuclear

EDF is the largest supplier of nuclear energy in France, running 58 reactors on 19 sites. [4]


In October 2004, EDF announced that it would build a prototype 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. [5]

The company is also involved in nuclear power in the USA and China. [6]

It has at least two contracts with British firms BNFL and AMEC. [7]

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 (whose former UK chief executive Philip Dewhurst, is now Director of Group Corporate Affairs at BNFL). [8][9]

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. [10]

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. [11]

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. [12]

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.'[13]

EDF uses the lobbying firm AS Biss and Co. [14]

In January 2008, EDF is listed as a client of French PR firm I&E[15]

Free Fastrack Nuclear Power Plants

As part of its submission to the Government's energy review, EDF has offered the government a programme to build a new fleet of French designed nuclear power stations in Britain - at no cost to the tax payer.

So what's the catch? EDF wants a system to guarantee the price of its electricity - and to fast track the planning process for any new plants. According to Pierre Gadonneix, the chairman and CEO of the EDF Group, the company would be "very willing" to play a role to make nuclear acceptable to public opinion. EDF is said to have a Euro 40 billion war-chest to expand nuclear world-wide, but a prime target is the UK. [16]

EDF's nuclear land-grab

In mid-2008, it emerged that EDF had been quietly buying up land next nuclear power stations, putting itself in strong position if the next generation of nuclear power stations gets the go-ahead.

The Financial Times reported that EDF had bought parcels of land next to Hinkley B in Somerset and Wylfa on Anglesey. [17]

Ironically, some of the land near Hinkley was the site of a proposed wind farm. Renewable energy company Your Energy had been trying to get planning permission for nine turbines on the West Hinkley site since 2002, but faced what campaigners describe as 'continuous objections' from British Energy. [18]

Who runs EDF Energy?

EDF Energy's website provides a list of its senior executives: [19]

Non-Executive Directors

Executive officers

References, Resources and Contact

References

  1. ↑ EDF Group website: 'Who we are', undated, accessed February 2006.
  2. ↑ EDF Energy website: 'Welcome', undated, accessed February 2006.
  3. ↑ EDF Energy website: 'About EDF Energy' undated, accessed February 2006.
  4. ↑ EDF website: 'Nuclear power, a safe and competitive energy', undated, accessed February 2006.
  5. ↑ David Gow, 'EDF to build nuclear prototype', The Guardian, 22 October 2004.
  6. ↑ 'EDF's presence in China' and 'EDF's presence in the USA', undated, accessed February 2006.
  7. ↑ BNG website: 'Bulgaria - Kozloduy', undated, accessed February 2006; and AMEC website: 'Our specialist nuclear services in France', undated, accessed February 2006.
  8. ↑ No named author, Private Eye issue 1151, p8, February 2006
  9. ↑ Chris Grimshaw, 'It's official: no dark Machiavellian conspiracy for new nuclear power', Corporate Watch newsletter, issue 21, December 2004.
  10. ↑ Uncorrected transcript of evidence given by Vincent de Rivaz to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2 November 2005.
  11. ↑ House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, ibid.
  12. ↑ EDF Energy press release: 'Londoners say UK should be self sufficient in energy', November 7, 2005.
  13. ↑ All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy: Meetings, January 25, 2006.
  14. ↑ AS Biss & Co: 'Our Clients', undated, (Accessed: February 2006.)
  15. ↑ I&E Clients Accessed 17th January 2008
  16. ↑ Faisal Islam, "Going Fission", Channel Four News, 12 April 2006.
  17. ↑ Ed Crooks and Rebecca Bream, 'EDF snaps up ‘nuclear’ land', Financial Times, 9 May 2008.
  18. ↑ Wind-farm rights sold to nuclear developer, Stop Hinkley Campaign press release, 13 May 2008.
  19. ↑ EDF Energy website: 'Company structure', undated, accessed February 2006.
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