The French Government is committed to “European solidarity” as one of the solutions before the arrival of autumn and winter
But he does not mention the MidCat pipeline project, which he continues to oppose.
France bets on “European solidarity”in addition to sobriety and guarantee production, to deal with the energy urgency. The French Government announced this Friday that it will increase its gas and electricity exchanges with Spain and Germany this winter to jointly face the closure of the Russian gas tap. It was one of the main announcements of the Defense Council – a small committee meeting format originally used for terrorism and defense issues – held this Friday at the Elysee to examine the current crisis, accentuated after the price of electricity exceeded the last week the 1,000 euros per megawatt hour and Gazprom suspended the supply of gas to the French company Engie.
“The key to overcoming this winter is general mobilization & rdquor ;, declared the Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, after this meeting chaired by Emmanuel Macron. “The Russian gas supply (in France) is not cut, but is found in its lowest levels& rdquor ;, recognized the person in charge of this crucial portfolio. She also referred to the situation of the French nuclear reactors, half of which are not currently working “due to corrosion or maintenance & rdquor ;:” EDF (state group) has promised to return all of them to work by this winter & rdquor ;.
The French Executive also hopes to reduce the demand for energy through voluntary sobriety measures, such as the plans that companies must develop throughout the month of September and that will be examined in early October. “The success of the sobriety plan will allow avoid more coercive measures& rdquor ;, promised Pannier-Runacher. Despite Macron’s vehement statements about “the end of abundance& rdquor ;, few measures have been announced by your Government in terms of energy saving. At least until now.
“Mutual solidarity” with Germany and Spain
In addition to sobriety and guaranteeing the production of electricity, the third pillar that the French administration relies on is “European solidarity”. At this Friday’s meeting, “they studied in a very particular way relations with Germany and Spain”, countries “with which we have important gas and electricity exchanges”, indicated the minister. “We have concluded that this reciprocal solidarity must be reinforced, starting this winter with gas and electricity exchanges with Germany and Spain & rdquor ;, she added.
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These statements come after the pressure exerted in recent weeks by the Spanish and German governments for France to agree to once again promote the gas pipeline through the Pyrenees, known as MidCat. But Pannier-Runacher never mentioned this infrastructure. Although statements made on Tuesday by the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, led to the belief that the French Executive could relax its opposition to this project, the neighboring country remains firm in its refusal, sources close to the French Ministry of Economy told El Periódico. Energy Transition. “The construction of this permanent and long-term infrastructure, when we want to accelerate the exit of fossil fuels and, in particular, of natural gas (& mldr;) is not adequate & rdquor ;, they affirmed.
Those same sources indicated that in August “the Current interconnection between France and Spainthrough the Pyrenees (…), it was only 60% used“. And it is through this network that Paris wants to increase energy exchanges.