The head of France’s CRE energy regulator said the country needs all of its commercial nuclear power reactors to restart production to lessen the risk of winter power cuts.

Commenting on strikes that have hit the nuclear industry, Emmanuelle Wargon told RMC radio that EDF should put any working reactors that do not require maintenance into service.

She said she was concerned that strikes would delay plant output and if no solution is found, the country could face serious electricity supply problems this winter.

Earlier this week, power grid operator RTE warned that prolonged strikes which have been delaying even further the restart of the nuclear reactors could have “heavy consequences” for electricity supply over the winter.