Energy giant EDF hit by spying fine

The espionage trial revealed that EDF had compiled a dossier on Greenpeace UK, which the environmental group said dated back to the period when the French company was moving into the British nuclear market.

EDF owns and runs eight nuclear power stations in the UK.

Greenpeace said the lesson from the trial was that “no one is above the law”, and urged countries like the UK not to work with the nuclear industry.

Greenpeace’s executive director in France, Adelaide Colin, said the fine and damages awarded to Greenpeace sent a “strong message”.

Instead of working with the nuclear industry, countries should invest in clean, safe sources of renewable electricity. Adelaide Colin

She added: “Instead of working with the nuclear industry, countries should invest in clean, safe sources of renewable electricity.”

Greenpeace UK’s executive director John Sauven said the company should give a full account of the action it mounted against its critics.

“As one of the six companies with a monopoly over electricity supply in this country and a major sponsor of the Olympics, EDF has a duty to come clean,” he said.

EDF declined to comment on the court case.