France may face energy ‘rationing’ this winter, says premier

PARIS

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has warned businesses about the risk of energy “rationing” this winter due to the suspension of gas deliveries from Russia.

“We are not going to cut off the gas in French households. It's our companies, the big consumers, that could be cut off,” Borne said at Quotidien news show on TMC broadcaster on Tuesday, after Russia’s Gazprom announced the suspension of gas deliveries to the French group Engie starting Sept. 1 due to non-payment.

Borne said Engie customers will not suffer as the group had “found other sources of supply.”

Although individuals and families will not be affected, she admitted the gas cuts for businesses could have obvious “economic and social consequences.”

The prime minister said that her government would try every bit to avoid going for energy “rationing.”

“Anything we can do to voluntarily reduce our consumption will save us from having to make cuts next winter," she added.

However, Borne said the cuts could happen "if all the wrong assumptions come together: if Russia cuts its supplies, if ever there is tension on LNG (liquefied natural gas) and the orders we have placed are not honored.”

Her statements follow Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire’s assurance to the French entrepreneurs that “rationing of energy for businesses” would be the last resort as he was determined to “not add an economic crisis to the energy crisis.”

Borne has already appealed to business houses and private companies to consume less energy as well as issued advisories to the ministers in her Cabinet to set an example by saving energy.