Under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme ... - Finance - EDF

Risk Factors
Risks associated with the EDF Group’s activities
The EDF Group operates facilities that may cause significant harm to the natural or
human environment or for which accidents, natural disasters or external attacks may
have serious consequences
The risks specific to nuclear facilities are described separately below (“Specific risks related
to the EDF Group’s nuclear activities”).
Although the EDF Group is not the owner of hydropower facilities, but only a concession
holder, as the operator thereof, it is responsible for the safety of the facilities. The main risks
associated with hydropower facilities and their operations are the risk of dams or associated
hydropower facilities bursting, risks associated with operating the facilities during floods, the
risk associated with flow or level variations due to the operation of the facilities and risks
related to natural disasters, external attacks or malicious acts of any kind. During the
construction and operation of hydroelectric facilities, the EDF Group takes necessary
accident prevention and safety measures in conjunction with the public authorities.
Nonetheless, the EDF Group cannot guarantee that such events will never occur or that the
measures taken will be fully effective in all cases, in particular, in dealing with external events
(floods, natural disasters, negligence or malicious acts).
Persons working in or near electricity transmission and distribution facilities may, in the event
of an accident, error or negligence, be exposed to the risk of electrocution. In this field, the
EDF Group also implements accident prevention and safety measures. However, the EDF
Group cannot guarantee that these measures will prove sufficient in all cases.
Questions concerning the risks to human health from exposure to electromagnetic fields
(EMF), in particular, from power lines operated by the EDF Group, have been raised both in
France and abroad. Based on studies completed over the past 20 years, numerous
international health organisations (including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the American Academy of Sciences,
the American National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the UK
Health Protection Agency) consider, based on currently available scientific information, that
the existence of health risks due to exposure to EMFs has not been proven. Various reports
published in 2009 (Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
(SCENIHR)) and 2010 (AFFSET and OPECST) do not change these conclusions. Since
2002, the IARC has classified low-frequency electromagnetic fields at level 2B (possible
carcinogen) on its scale of scientific evidence. In addition, in a report published in June 2007,
the World Health Organisation considers that health risks, if any, are low. In 2010, RTE, in
conjunction with the French Mayor’s Association, launched an information and measurement
campaign on the subject of very low-frequency (50Hz) electromagnetic fields for the mayors
of 18,000 municipalities located near high and very high voltage power lines. This joint
campaign reinforces existing communication on EMFs and aims to respond openly to the
questions most frequently asked on the subject. Medical knowledge about health risks
related to exposure to EMFs may evolve, public sensitivity about such risks could increase or
the precautionary principle could be applied very broadly. At both the EU and French level,
new regulations aimed at understanding the risks associated with EMFs are being drafted.
For example, in France, the Grenelle 2 law of 12 July 2010, and its implementing decree of 1
December 2011, provide that as of 1 January 2012 managers of public electricity
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