France Plans for Gas Cuts

France is working on energy contingency plans to mitigate against the escalating gas shortage across Europe.

• “We will determine which companies are of the most strategic importance, namely those for whom we can allow gas to be cut off and those for whom we cannot allow any cuts," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in an RMC radio interview this morning.
• Le Maire also said that he has backed calls by top French energy companies to limit energy consumption by both companies and individuals.
• Leaders of TotalEnergies, EDF and Engie called on the French public on Sunday to immediately reduce consumption of fuel, oil, electricity and gas amid shortages and soaring prices due to Russia’s supply cuts. “The effort must be immediate, collective and massive,” the joint statement said.
• France also plans to restart a coal-fueled power plant located in the eastern Moselle region to meet the country's winter electricity need. France’s increase in coal consumption is expected to be limited versus some of its European counterparts who have also committed to burn coal for power generation to preserve gas.