The risk of energy delivery rationing this winter is “low” if “everyone takes their share of responsibility”, says Roland Lescure

Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate in charge of Industry, wanted Monday, September 5 on franceinfo to reassure companies whose concern is mounting in the face of the risk of rationing of gas and electricity deliveries agitated by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. “We are not there yet. The sobriety plan aims precisely to avoid rationing. The fact that we reduce a little the production and the deliveries of energy for the main consumers today, this risk is low“, he says

“If each of us, on a daily basis, at home or in the office, does our part, this risk will be extremely low. So really, I appeal to everyone’s responsibility“, he also launches. What is true for electricity is perhaps a little less true for gas which depends on the goodwill of Russia. The risk is “necessarily a little higher on gas since the unknown is: Will Putin stop delivering gas to Europe?“, he agreed.

If the winter is not too harsh, and above all “if everyone takes their share of responsibility“, the rationing scenario is “preventable“, according to the minister. But the government seems to be preparing for all options: “the best way to avoid the worst is to prepare for it. It is true that by examining the worst-case scenarios, by calling on each other to be responsible, we limit this risk.“, says Roland Lescure.

Hospitals, defense companies and a number of food companies will not be affected by any rationing: “It will only concern a few thousand companies which are large consumers“, he explains.

“First, the tertiary sector. Reduce heating, put part of the employees can be teleworking at the end of the week, this can, again, make it possible to limit this scenario of rationing”

Roland Lescure, Minister of Industry

on franceinfo

The SNCF is working for its part, at the request of the executive, on a degraded transport plan this winter in the event of severe electricity shortages. The government denied the cancellation of trains: “The objective is not to stop SNCF trains“, confirms Roland Lescure. “The first false good idea that must be discarded is to slow down the speed of the TGVs“, he said. “Except in an extremely adverse scenario, this is what the SNCF specified, in extremely specific cases where we should ration energy, we will have all the trains we want to go on vacation at Christmas.“, he reassures.