France's new environment minister says energy plan due end-October
摘要:
London — France's new environment and energy minister Francois de Rugy Wednesday sai
d the national energy roadmap for the coming decade would be presented by the end of
October.
In his first interview following his appointment Tuesday, the new minister told France
Inter he would "not deviate from the path of ecological transformation." "We will do
what has never been done before," de Rugy said, referring to the multi-annual energy
plans (PPE) but without providing details.
"I will meet everyone and listen to the constraints of reality. But I will not deviate
from the path of the ecological transformation," de Rugy said on his twitter account
following the interview.
De Rugy was a member of the Green Party before joining President Emmanuel Macron's
LREM party last year. He has been acting as speaker of the National Assembly.
Questioned about incumbent power utility EDF's lobbying and influence on energy
policy, the minister noted the utility was an 85% state-owned public enterprise with
parliament responsible for policy.
He referred to renewables expansion and especially offshore wind as a key challenge
for EDF.
De Rugy has been a lawmaker for the Nantes region on the French Atlantic coast since
2007. The region has developed into a key hub for French offshore wind, with EDF's
Saint-Nazaire project expected to be France's first large offshore wind farm to enter
operation by 2021.
France's wind energy lobby FEE Wednesday appealed to the minister to confirm state
support for offshore wind projects, described as the "Achilles' heel" of the country's
renewable energy program.
Pragmatist with green credentials According to state broadcaster France24, de Rugy is
known as a pragmatist who backed Macron's decision last year to delay the planned
reduction of nuclear in the French power mix.
However before joining Macron's LREM, de Rugy campaigned for a full exit from nuclear
by 2040 and 100% renewables by 2050.
Rugy is considered more of the career politician and a safe choice by Macron,
according to a note by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada Wednesday.