France close to energy rationing because of problems with nuclear power plants

Jeoffro RenéJanuary 1, 2023


France is uncomfortably close to energy rationing due to problems it is having with some of its nuclear power plants, according to a report by Time claimed.

The British newspaper claimed that Emmanuel Macron’s France is currently on the verge of having to ration energy due to the shutdown of a number of its nuclear power stations in recent months.

If true, the news does not bode well for many countries in Europe which depend on France for some of their electricity, with the UK and Germany depending on the country for some of their power. .

According to the report released on Sunday, the reduction in the number of operating nuclear power plants in the country has put a strain on the country’s national power grid.

Warmer weather has since meant that, despite supply problems, power rationing is unlikely to be necessary, although the country’s electricity watchdog has warned that a sudden cold spell could change that.

“Until January 15, we know that we will have no difficulty”, Time reports Emmanuelle Wargon, president of the Energy Regulatory Commission in France.

“Afterwards, if there is a cold snap, the situation will necessarily be more tense,” she continued.

While the widespread availability of nuclear power has generally been a boon for France at a time when gas and oil have rapidly become scarce in Europe, problems with various power plants across the country have seen production fall to lows. worrying levels in recent weeks.

With the discovery of dangerous cracks in a number of major power plants, up to half of the country’s nuclear arsenal has been taken out of service, drastically reducing the amount of electricity the country can generate.

Although the state quickly deployed a veritable army of engineers to solve the problems, temporary damage to production levels nevertheless forced it to stop supplying its European neighbors, the country having asked last month to cut the UK French energy exports in hopes of saving electricity.

Further problems couldn’t come at a worse time for many on the continent, with Germany in particular coming under extreme pressure to cut gas consumption by 20% or more last winter in hopes of maintaining its economy afloat.

Despite recent reports indicating that savings efforts are well underway after an extremely difficult start to December, a sudden drop in the electricity supplied by France would probably require the combustion of more gas, which would undoubtedly increase consumption considerably. interior.

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Jeoffro RenéJanuary 1, 2023
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