The French government is preparing for the possibility of imposing restrictions or cuts in gas supplies before a potential shutdown from Russia. These steps would not directly affect private consumers at this stage, whereas electricity policy remains open to different outcomes.
Prime minister Elizabeth Borne, in an interview broadcast on TMC during late Tuesday into Wednesday, confirmed that Gazprom has decided to halt gas deliveries to the French operator Engie starting Thursday. She stressed that the message is meant to be reassuring. Engie has reportedly located alternative supply sources. There are other supply options beyond Russian gas, the prime minister noted.
She added that French energy managers have prepared for this scenario and that it will be necessary to consider hypotheses involving possible limitations or reductions in supply. The warning was clear: gas for French households will not be cut, but large industrial users could face outages if the situation deteriorates.
Borne emphasized that voluntary measures to reduce consumption can prevent conse quential cuts next winter, underscoring that no one wants disruption. She framed the supply interruption as a confluence of events: if Russia cuts gas, LNG shipments could become strained and orders may not be fulfilled, especially in very cold conditions.
Gazprom has been reducing deliveries for months
Gazprom’s decision to suspend Engie supplies follows a period of sharply reduced shipments amid ongoing tensions linked to the war in Ukraine. Engie recently reported receiving about 1.5 terawatt hours per month, a figure far below the roughly 400 terawatt hours of gas that Engie imports into Europe annually for its network.
Emmanuelle Wargon, head of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), said on Wednesday that the agency is not overly worried about Gazprom shifting sourcing to France, though price dynamics remain a critical consideration. The situation will have repercussions, she warned. In a previous interview, Wargon recalled that Russia used to supply about 17 percent of France’s consumption, a share that has since fallen to around 9 percent.
France holds strong reserves
Wargon reported that existing gas reserves in France stand at about 91 percent of capacity, with expectations that this level will rise to more than 95 percent and may even reach full capacity before the start of winter on November 1. These reserves account for roughly a quarter of France’s annual gas consumption. France will continue to import LNG by ship, enabling ongoing supply despite shifts in pipeline gas from Russia.
Electricity presents a different challenge because most of the country’s nuclear fleet has been temporarily shut down. With 32 out of 56 reactors offline, France faces higher reliance on imports to meet demand. The CRE head stressed that both households and businesses must adopt sobriety measures to reduce consumption during peak hours, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening. This approach helps smooth demand and lessen the risk of shortages.
Wargon also noted that any potential electricity interruption would be managed at a European level, aligning production capacity and interconnections across member states. She cautioned that, in a crisis, there would be no distinction between private consumers and companies when it comes to supply constraints. The overarching goal is to maintain stability and minimize impact across the economy.
As the situation evolves, the government and regulators continue to monitor gas and electricity markets, ready to adjust policies to protect households while ensuring critical industrial activity can continue. The emphasis remains on diversifying supply sources, accelerating LNG imports where feasible, and encouraging energy conservation to reduce the likelihood of forced cuts during winter months. The human impact is at the forefront, with authorities aiming to avoid disruption to daily life while preserving essential economic functions. This adaptive stance reflects ongoing lessons from Europe’s broader energy security discussions and the need for coordinated action across borders.