France’s EDF has suspended plans to sell a minority stake in its Italian subsidiary Edison due to uncertainty over liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar, with the sale process potentially resuming in early 2027, Reuters reported.
Edison CEO Nicola Monti said the company lacked sufficient visibility into the timing of QatarEnergy’s deliveries to support long-term planning. He added that the company hoped supplies would resume early next year, although the outlook remained unclear.
QatarEnergy’s latest official notice indicated that it would not deliver LNG cargoes to Edison until at least the first half (H1) of December. Since April, Edison has replaced Qatari supplies, which previously accounted for approximately 40% of its supply portfolio, primarily by purchasing US LNG on the spot market.
EDF confirmed that market conditions had forced it to postpone the transaction. The French utility has been considering an initial public offering (IPO) or a minority stake sale in Edison for several months to raise funds for new nuclear reactors and maintenance of its existing nuclear fleet.
Speaking at an energy conference organized by Italian publisher RCS, Monti said Edison remained prepared to restart the process once market conditions, particularly developments in the Gulf, became clearer.
The delay follows EDF’s agreement to sell its renewable energy operations in the United States and Canada to investment firm KKR in a transaction valuing the businesses at approximately $4.2 billion, with potential additional payments of up to $390 million. EDF said the transaction would reduce its net financial debt by around $5.5 billion. The sale was expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
In August, QatarEnergy has formally notified Edison, a primary European buyer, of an extension to the force majeure suspension on liquefied natural gas deliveries. Operations are now expected to resume no earlier than early November as a result of the U.S.–Iran war..
EDF announced the agreement to sell its US and Canadian operations in June 2026 as part of its portfolio restructuring strategy. The transaction was intended to strengthen the group’s financial capacity to support investment in nuclear energy, hydropower and renewable energy.
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