After months of discussions, EDF and ArcelorMittal concluded an 18-year nuclear power supply agreement at the end of December. This long-term contract came into effect on January 1st, just after the abolition of the ARENH mechanism, which until then had guaranteed industrial access to nuclear power at regulated prices.
The agreement is based on the principle of directly allocating a portion of the production from EDF's nuclear power plants. It should allow the steel group to secure, over the long term, a supply of low-carbon energy at a cost deemed competitive, a key element for maintaining its industrial activities in France.
A prerequisite for industrial investments
For ArcelorMittal, this commitment had become essential, particularly for considering the transformation of certain sites, such as Dunkirk, towards processes with lower CO₂ emissions. The group emphasizes, however, that this energy requirement alone is not sufficient: other decisions, notably at the European level regarding the protection of the steel market, are still pending before any green light is given to the investments.
For EDF, this contract is part of a broader strategy to increase the number of long-term agreements with major industrial companies. The state-owned electricity provider indicates that it has already signed several similar agreements, with the aim of reserving a growing share of its nuclear production for industry, in order to support the competitiveness and decarbonization of the French industrial sector.
