EDF preparing cost-cutting plan worth up to three billion euros: sources

PARIS (Reuters) – French state-controlled utility EDF has started preparing a cost-cutting plan worth between 2 and 3 billion euros ($1.13 billion), two sources told Reuters, confirming a report by French newspaper Le Monde.

The savings plan could entail divestments of major assets or a hiring and investment freeze, while seeking cost cuts at all levels, Le Monde said on Monday.

An EDF spokesman told Reuters there was a savings plan in the works, but said it was too early to provide details.

EDF, which operates all of France’s 57 nuclear reactors that account for around 70% of the country’s electricity needs, earlier withdrew its financial targets for 2020 and 2021 as the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak hit key areas of its businesses.

(Reporting by Benjamin Maillet, Writing by Maya Nikolaeva; Editing by Sarah White and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)