The bosses of TotalEnergies, EDF and Engie mentioned in a uncommon joint assertion: “The trouble have to be instant, collective and large. Each gesture counts.”
Russia has minimize – and in some case shut off – gasoline provides to a number of European Union international locations in retaliation for the bloc’s sanctions in opposition to Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
France’s three power firms are urging folks to instantly scale back consumption of gas, oil, electrical energy and gasoline amid shortages and hovering costs as a consequence of Russia’s provide cuts and the conflict in Ukraine.
For months, the European power system has been underneath extreme pressure, and the French system has not been spared.
The extent of alert on gasoline shares throughout the continent is excessive and rationing measures have been put in place.
France, like different European international locations, is attempting to beef up its gasoline reserves for winter, aiming to replenish its storage by early autumn to avert an financial and political disaster.
“Taking motion in the summertime will put together us for winter,” the power firms’ leaders mentioned.
Along with the gasoline provide shortages linked to the conflict in Ukraine, there are pressures on electrical energy manufacturing capacities in Europe and reductions in hydroelectric manufacturing as a consequence of drought.
“The hovering power costs are a results of these difficulties that threaten our social and political cohesion and have a heavy impression on buying energy of households,” the assertion mentioned.
