Paris 30 August : French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called for companies in France to come up with an energy strategy by September.The request comes amid a worldwide energy crisis caused by changes in the climate and also the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.In a speech at an assembly of the Movement of Enterprises of France (MEDEF) on Monday, Borne said that common goals were needed.
“We are entering a new era of shared responsibility” she was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
“Climate change isn’t a nagging reality, it’s now a destructive reality.We need to implement revolutionary and creative solutions, implement radical changes in the production methods we employ and invest in training for the jobs of the future.”
If Russia were to stop the export of gas towards Europe, France would need to swiftly come up with methods to “make ecological transition an opportunity for growth, innovation and employment” Borne said.
“We already know we’ll use lower gas prices this winter when compared to other seasons,” she said.
“This crisis presents a new problem to European solidarity, since in the future we will inevitably suffer the effects of an European recession in the economy.There is only one way to go to take, a reduction in energy consumption.”
In the first week of August, France’s minister of energy transition Agnes Pantnier-Runacher announced the gas reserves of France were at 100% fully stocked, in preparation for possible shortages in the winter.
Pannier-Runacher said France is ahead of its goals and that the gas reserves will be 100 percent filled by the end of November.1.
French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to host a defense council meeting on Friday to discuss the country’s energy strategy for winter.
int/shs
