France's nuclear fleet, currently dragged down by maintenance and repair works, is expected to reach a production capacity of 45 gigawatts (GW) in January, the energy watchdog said, without ruling out that it could go as far as EDF's projection of nearly 50GW.

"We should reach 45 GW in January. Fifty (GW) are probably within reach," CRE chief Emmanuelle Wargon told France Inter radio. In a previous forecast earlier this month, Wargon had said she expected 40GW in production in January. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Louise Heavens)