France’s state-run utility EDF is planning to reduce its overseas workforce and withdraw from certain international nuclear projects to concentrate on a domestic construction programme under its new CEO Bernard Fontana, as reported by Reuters.

Once a global leader in nuclear power, France is retreating amid rising global demand, allowing new competitors to emerge as high costs and design challenges hinder its international competitiveness.

Fontana aims to accelerate the modernisation of France’s nuclear fleet, expressing a commitment to focus on domestic projects rather than the international operations that have previously included reactor construction in China, Finland and Britain.

Recent changes include focusing on tenders in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, while deprioritising projects in Poland, India and Canada. This shift is expected to cut costs and reallocate resources to higher-priority initiatives.

EDF’s recent international projects have experienced significant delays and cost overruns. In 2024, it lost a bid for two new reactors in the Czech Republic to South Korea’s KHNP.

EDF also plans to reduce its international sales team by 60 positions, including ten managerial roles.

The French government identifies the new French nuclear programme as a priority.

President Emmanuel Macron announced plans in early 2022 for six new reactors to replace ageing plants, with projected costs of €67bn ($78.7bn).

The company is indebted due to costly repairs made to its nuclear fleet in recent years. EDF is considering the sale of certain renewable energy assets in North America and Brazil.

EDF’s subsidiaries, Framatome and Arabelle, which manufacture reactor components, will continue to pursue international contracts, including the AP1000 project in Poland.