France will be forced to introduce energy rationing this winter if Russia halts gas supplies to Europe and businesses don’t take steps to reduce consumption, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne warned on Monday.
Speaking at a conference in Paris held by the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) – France’s largest employer federation – Borne began by mentioning the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine, and thanked the companies that pulled out of the Russian market to ensure “these sanctions are effective.”
However, the Prime Minister acknowledged that Paris’ sanctions had backfired in the form inflation. Russia has the ability to halt the flow of gas. Europe may be confronted if Moscow acts. “enormous consequences,”It has been since “no immediately available alternatives” – and France, while less exposed to this risk compared with its neighbors, will not be safe, Borne explained.
“In the face of a shortage risk, there is but one option: reducing energy consumption,”She addressed business leaders at the event.
“I suggest we manage this reduction together. If we do not, if everyone does not play their part, brutal gas outages could happen before long, with serious consequences for our economy and society,”Borne was warned.
France’s top priority now is “stopping any energy consumption that is not vital,” which is the point of the ‘energy sobriety plan’ announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in July, the prime minister said. “This plan is a pact that we are proposing to you: saving energy by choice instead of facing blackouts imposed by force.”
Electricity costs in Germany and France reached record highs on Friday, driven by Moscow’s plan to shut down the last operational turbine on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for three days’ maintenance. These aren’t the only countries that feel the effects of Russia sanctions. People across Europe are stockpiling whatever fuel they can obtain – including firewood and coal – for the long winter ahead.
Macron stated last week that France was moving towards the “end of abundance”They will be forced to take risks.
Share this story via social media
[ad_2]
