Geoffrey Branger, edited by Gauthier Delomez
06:09, August 03, 2022modified to
07:25, August 03, 2022
The executive is looking at French gas stocks for the winter, as an energy crisis due to the shutdown of Russian gas supplies and the maintenance of several nuclear power plants is envisaged. The objective is to reach 85% occupancy by November 1, despite strong international competition.
France is preparing to face a particularly difficult winter in terms of gas supply. President Emmanuel Macron announced that it wanted to fill inventories to meet high demand and anticipate a likely energy crisis with the end of Russian gas deliveries, and the maintenance of many French nuclear power plants. At the beginning of August, the country has already fully filled its stocks with almost 80% of capacity, which represents around 20% of France’s annual consumption.
The objective of 85% occupancy by November 1
However, the executive does not want to stop there because he wants to avoid a possible shortage of gas this winter. The objective is to reach 85% occupancy by November 1. We will therefore have to buy once more, and the government intends to rely on its usual partners, namely Norway, the Netherlands, Algeria, Nigeria and even Qatar. Despite everything, this year, these countries are solicited by the whole world because of the absence of the Russian supplier.
Load shedding envisaged for high-consumption industries
In the months to come, France will find itself in competition with Asia, which will begin to stock up for the winter. There might therefore be less gas available and an increase in prices.
It is therefore not excluded that France does not reach its filling target. This is why the Ministry of the Economy is anticipating the worst scenario, and is developing a plan whereby the industries which consume the most energy and which do not directly support growth are subject to load shedding. In times of high tension, these industries will no longer receive a single drop of gas so that essential places are preserved such as schools, hospitals or nursing homes.
