Nuclear power plants ensure Europe’s energy security in winter – news from Debrecen, news from Debrecen | Debrecen and Hajdú-Bihar county news
Europe ensures energy security in winter with nuclear power plants
Russian gas deliveries have not stopped completely, they are just at a very low level
The filling of gas reservoirs in France has reached 92 percent as required for November, the company EDFai has indicated that all nuclear power plants will operate in the winter – constantly on Agnes Pannier-Runacher, responsible for the transition of the energy administration.
Photo illustration – Pixabay
“The Russian gas supply has not stopped completely, it is only at a very low level, … but the government has been preparing for the situation for months. We secured the gas reservoirs, they are already 92 percent full, two months ahead of schedule,” said the minister after the meeting of the defense council, which was convened by President Emmanuel Macron to discuss issues related to energy supply.
Agnes Pannier-Runacher reminded that 32 of the country’s 56 nuclear reactors are currently out of service due to maintenance, but EDF undertakes to restart the reactors from October.
France provides 70 percent of its residential energy supply from nuclear energy and 16 percent from natural gas.
About 17 percent of the latter came from Russia in 2020, but the government has since reduced the proportion to 9 percent, and they will continue to purchase natural gas from other sources during the winter.
Fearing a complete shutdown of Russian gas supplies, the French government developed an energy saving plan in June, which aims to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent by 2024.
Catherine MacGregor, CEO of global energy provider Engie, said in an interview on Friday:
residential consumption has practically decreased by about 4-5 times since the start of the war in Ukraine.
“We view the gas situation in France with relative calm. There will be no shortage of gas this winter,” said the company manager on RTL commercial radio. He acknowledged that the European energy situation is uncertain.
Azat’s government has promised to bear part of the increase in energy prices from the population even after it lifts its freeze, which was established more than a year ago, at the end of 2022.
According to the data published by the Ministry of Economy, the state spent 24 billion euros in the past year to limit energy prices, of which 16.5 billion euros were spent on freezing residential energy prices and 7.5 billion euros on discounts on fuel prices.
Since April 1st, the government has provided motorists with a discount of 15 eurocents per liter at gas stations, the amount increased to 30 eurocents on September 1st. The measure applies to both entrepreneurs and households and applies to all fuels.
“The success of the energy saving plan will avoid restrictive measures in the winter,” stressed Agnes Pannier-Runacher.
The minister also promised that the government would also strengthen “European solidarity”. The exchange of gas and electricity with Spain and Germany will be continuous throughout the winter in order to ensure that there are no interruptions in the electricity and gas supply.