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Europe energy crisis: France’s Macron urges cuts in energy use to avert rationing

Tuesday, 06 September 2022 8:14 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 06 September 2022 9:22 AM ]

France's President Emmanuel Macron addresses the media following a conference with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the energy crisis via video link, at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on September 5, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of a looming energy crisis in the coming winter in the aftermath of Russia’s reduction of its gas supplies to Europe, urging citizens to reduce their energy consumption to avert rationing.

Macron called for a 10 percent reduction in the country’s energy use in the coming weeks and months to stave off the risk of rationing and cuts this winter, France 24 reported.

The French government has repeatedly warned that companies and retail users needed to cut down on their energy use next winter, with electricity outages a possibility if the winter is unusually cold.

Macron also warned that if voluntary efforts to reduce energy consumption aren’t sufficient they might have to consider forced energy-saving plans.

He called on French citizens to use air conditioning and heating a “bit less than usual” to avoid power outages. “The answer is up to us,” he said.

Energy rationing plans are being prepared, the French President said, adding that “cuts will happen as a last resort.”

Macron also said his country was ready to deliver gas to Germany in the winter in case Europe’s gas squeeze makes such a move necessary.

He said French gas could help Germany to produce more electricity which, in turn, would allow Germany to contribute electricity to the French power grid during peak hours.

Germany is more dependent on Russian gas than France, which generates most of its electricity in nuclear power stations.

Macron also said he was in favor of joint gas purchases by EU governments which he said would make them cheaper.

France, he added, would meanwhile back any move by the European Commission to set a price limit on gas bought from Russia and delivered by pipeline.

German, French electricity prices soar to new records

German and French electricity prices for 2023 soar to new records as the European energy crisis triggered by the ongoing Ukraine conflict worsens.

The European energy crisis comes as tensions persist between Russia and the West over Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.

Natural gas prices have soared in Europe to all-time highs since the West began unleashing waves of sanctions against Moscow.

Ever since, Russia’s Gazprom has drastically reduced its gas deliveries to Europe, saying that the anti-Russia sanctions have blocked the delivery of a turbine needed to stream gas to Europe via pipeline.

Back in March, the Russian government barred the firm from gas deliveries to foreign buyers who fail to pay in time.

Gazprom said last week that it would halt all gas deliveries to French utility Engie from Thursday due to its failure to fully pay for deliveries made last month.

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