PHOTO
The president of the association representing minor shareholders of French state-controlled energy giant EDF Martine Faure poses during a photo session in Paris on February 15, 2023. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP)
France's state-controlled energy giant EDF reported a record annual loss and massive debt Friday as the fallout from the Ukraine conflict and idling of several nuclear reactors weighed on the company.
EDF's debt ballooned to 64.5 billion euros ($68.6 billion) in 2022 while losses totalled 17.9 billion euros.
EDF struggled with a drop in electricity output last year as it had to close several of France's 56 nuclear reactors to fix corrosion problems and a heatwave reduced hydro-power production.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring, the government required EDF to sell energy at below cost to consumers to help them pay utility bills.
"The 2022 results were significantly affected by the decline in our electricity output, and also by exceptional regulatory measures introduced in France in difficult market conditions," chief executive Luc Remont said in a statement.
EDF's revenue rose by 70 percent to 143.5 billion euros last year due to the rising energy prices.