French electricity generation curbed by pensions strike

Strikes over planned pensions reform had reduced French electricity generation by 5.1 gigawatts (GW) or around 6.4% of available generation capacity by 0850 GMT on Friday, data from grid operator RTE and utility EDF showed.

Power production was reduced at nuclear and gas-fired generators, while 2.1 GW was cut at hydropower stations.

French electricity demand is seen outstripping available generation capacity due to cold weather, leaving France as a net power importer with 2.4 GW of net imports on Friday morning, the data showed.