Two storks stand in a nest on top of a pole of high-voltage power lines in front of the chimney of the Electricite de France (EDF) coal-fired power plant in Cordeme, Bue, France, February 25, 2022. REUTERS / Stephane Mahe
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
PARIS, June 25 (Reuters) – Leaders of major French energy companies on Sunday called on people and businesses to limit energy consumption immediately to prepare for an impending energy crisis.
“We need to work collectively to reduce consumption in order to regain room for maneuver,” Engie (ENGIE.PA), EDF (EDF.PA) and Total (TTEF.PA) CEOs said in an open letter. published by the weekly Journal du Dimanche.
The letter, signed by Catherine McGregor of Engie, Jean-Bernard Levy of EDF and Patrick Puyan of TotalEnergies, cited a sharp drop in Russian gas supplies, as well as limited electricity production due to maintenance problems.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
France aims to fill its gas storage facilities by early autumn, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne said on Thursday. Currently, gas storage facilities in the country are 59% full.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shed light on Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, sparking a struggle to find alternative energy sources.
French media reported in March that the government was in talks with TotalEnergies to increase LNG production capacity after the United States said it was ready to increase supplies to Europe.
“Taking action as soon as this summer will allow us to be better prepared early next winter, in particular to preserve our gas reserves,” energy company executives said in a letter, adding that efforts to curb of consumption must be “immediate, collective and massive”.
They cite their own efforts to find new sources of gas and build a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the northern port of Le Havre.
France recently expanded its mechanism to regulate gas prices by the end of the year. Originally scheduled to run until the end of June, the system is designed to limit the effects of rising energy prices on consumers’ purchasing power.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
Report by Nicholas Delamee, Benjamin Mallet and Mimosa Spencer Edited by Sandra Mahler and David Goodman
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
Add Comment