PARIS (Reuters) - French utility EDF (PA:EDF) said on Wednesday that protests could hit its coal power plants in France until the end of June 2019, due to the legislative process that would lead to the adoption of France's long-term energy policy.
The French government is expected to present a draft of the plan at the end of the month.
The plan will likely lay out when France will phase out its remaining coal power generators, reduce its dependence on nuclear power and boost renewable sources in its energy mix.
President Emmanuel Macron has promised to shut down France's coal power plants by the end of 2021.
EDF said the protests could hit its Cordemais 4 and Cordemais 5 coal-fired plants, which each have 580 megawatts (MW) capacity, and the 580 MW Le Havre 4 unit until the end of the first half of 2019.
France, which depends on nuclear power for over 75 percent of its electricity needs, has shutdown most of its coal power plants. Only five units with a an installed capacity of around 3,000 MW are currently online.