November 13, 2018 - French power grid operator RTE said on Tuesday that coal supply constraints could reduce power production at two EDF Cordemais plants in western France.

RTE said there would be a tight management of stocks at the plant from November 14. The two Cordemais units have an installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

RTE did not give reasons for the coal supply difficulties, while EDF was not immediately available to comment.

The Nantes Saint Nazaire port, which handles coal shipments to the Cordemais plants, says on its website that between 1.3 and 2 million tonnes of coal pass through Montoir de Bretagne before being forwarded by barges to the power station.

The coal imports come from South Africa, Poland, the United States and Australia, it said.

Separately, a 24-hour nationwide strike on Tuesday has led to a halt in power generation at the two units.