His appointment validated by the Parliament, Bernard Fontana takes control of EDF « without having dizziness » – Liberation

Old industrial and nuclear affairs road, Bernard Fontana, the candidate appointed by Emmanuel Macron To replace Luc Rémont to the presidency of EDFknew what to expect when he appeared this Wednesday morning in front of the senators « With humility, listening and commitment »before engaging in the same exercise in front of the deputies. The boss of Framatome had an appointment before the economic affairs commissions of the two chambers for a large eagerly awaited oral. An essential exercise for its appointment not only to the prince (even if the state is now a 100 % shareholder of EDF), but that it is also validated by representatives of citizens consuming electricity.

Bernard Fontana, of which « The solid course » had been praised by the rapporteur LR of the Senate economic affairs committee, Daniel Grémillet, obtained without too much trouble the green light from parliamentarians at the end of more than four hours of hearings which put it on the grill, but never really destabilized: in the end, the elected officials of the two commissions endorsed the choice made by the head of state to place Bernard Fontana 55 Voices against 40. He will take office as CEO of EDF Monday May 5, after a general assembly of the group, succeeding Luc Rémont brutally dismissed by the President of the Republic on March 21 after « Disagreements » on electricity prices and on financing the new nuclear program.

In this tense context, the Fontana passage exam did not « Nothing of a formality » As the senator LR Martine Berthet recalled: the trap questions about EDF’s state of health, electricity prices « Prohibitive » offered to electro-intensive industrialists and the doubts that surround the funding at 100 billion euros from the first six EPR 2 already pointed out by the Court of Auditors did not fail, coming as much from the right as from the left. But the annoyance of parliamentarians aimed more « Contradictory injunctions » of the shareholder state which wants up to fourteen new EPRs while asking EDF low prices for electricity, and multi -year energy programming (PPE) defended in pain by Francois Bayrou Monday April 28 at the Assembly. Although supported by Macronist elected officials, Bernard Fontana’s candidacy was not directly questioned by opposition. The LFI rapporteur of the Assembly’s economic affairs committee, Matthias Tavel, just noted that « Changing the name of the CEO is a very narrow way to respond to the impossible EDF equation » who cost his post to Luc Rémont, and before him to his predecessor Jean-Bernard Lévy.

« You are not a candidate for the post of nuclear electricity in France but of Electricité de France, with all the place that must be given to renewable energies »warned the rebellious, elected from Loire-Atlantique. Before saying all his annoyance on the « Parliament bypass » by the government « Who refuses a vote on the new energy roadmap in the country ». And conclude: « Our vote will not only be on your name but on government policy. » « I am a candidate for the CEO of Electricité de France »replied by smiling Bernard Fontana, saying he was determined to pursue a policy of « Energy complementarity » Between the atom and the renewables. The aspirant to the presidency of EDF did not, on the other hand, responded to the kiss of the death given by an RN deputy who was delighted with his candidacy « Proposed a long time ago by Jean-Philippe Tanguy to replace Luc Rémont ».

« I like the industry I have devoted my whole career to it », recalled Bernard Fontana, before taking on his CV calmly. At 64, this great state clerk, polytechnician and arms engineer, has long worked for the National Powder and Explosives Society (SNPE), before piloting the HR of the Arcelor-Mittal group at the time where the stew did not yet dismiss in Francethen to take the direction of the Swiss Cementier Holcim whose merger he led to Lafarge. But it was especially the last ten years that he has spent rectifying Framatome, the subsidiary of EDF responsible for making the large components of nuclear reactors, which interested parliamentarians. Senators and deputies are always looking for responses on the drifts of construction costs and deadlines for EPR Flamanville, finally entered service at the end of 2024but still in the rise in power.

« I measure the challenges that await me to the EDF management »assured Bernard Fontana in front of senators and deputies before listing his major priorities: « Produce low carbon electricity at the service of households, the country’s sovereignty and the fight against climate change »,, « Continue the recovery of nuclear production with a target of 400 TWh in 2030 » (versus 362 TWh in 2024), « Provide competitive electricity » consumers and electro-intensive industrialists, « Master the deadlines and costs of the new nuclear » To build the first six EPR 2 reactors wanted by Emmanuel Macron, « Relaunch investments in hydraulics » by avoiding the competition of dams wanted by Brussels, or « Secure EDF’s projects in wind at sea »…

But like the centrist deputy Charles de Courson who gave Bernard Fontana « The candidate »parliamentarians were mainly worried about « Funding wall » which is confronted by EDF: « 54 billion euros to extend the existing park, 23 billion for the Flamanville EPR, 36 billion pounds for the British EPRs of Hinkley Point, 100 billion for the EPR 2… how do you do ? ». Several parliamentarians worried about a possible new fiasco of the EPR 2 program. To the environmental senator Yannick Jadot wondering « What vertigo seizes the candidate for the presidency of EDF » In front of the enormous industrial and financial challenges that await the company, Bernard Fontana replied: « Do I have dizzy? » No. On the other hand, I measure the issues well and I count on the experience feedback from the teams that have already built four EPRs (Besides Hinkley Point, in Taishan in China, Olkiluoto in Finland and Flamanville in France, editor’s note). There is a path to succeed in this challenge of the new nuclear, our old ones have already done so for the existing park ”. How to find the 100 billion necessary for the first six EPRs? « EDF is a robust company that has displayed Record results in 2024 and will maintain debt (54 billion euros in 2024, editor’s note)»» At a sustainable level, swept Fontana. The future CEO puts as much on « The improved loan » promised by the State to build the six EPR 2 only on « The standard effect » that will allow him to « To identify considerable financial room for ».

The future CEO of EDF has promised « A quote and a calendar » For EPR 2 « From the end of the year »,, « A rapid alignment of the positions of EDF and the State with the possible financing methods » and a « Investment decision by the 2nd half of 2026 for an entry into service of the first tranche in 2038 ». To confirm the two to three years late now planned for the delivery of the first two EPRs in Penly who partially cost her dismissal to his predecessor Luc Rémont.

«  »It is perhaps the mission of a life ”had judged the latter, by accepting this high -risk job in November 2022, without suspecting that he would fall so quickly in Jupiterian disgrace. Bernard Fontana, he pretended to take things with serenity: « One of my best friends told me » I will not recommend this position to my best enemy « , today I accept it with determination and confidence. » The future will say if the new CEO of EDF is commensurate with « The mission impossible » Pointed by more than one parliamentarian … and if he will avoid the premature trigger for his ejecting seat.