PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- France's gas reserves are 80 percent full in preparation for possible shortages this winter, the country's minister for energy transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher announced on Wednesday.
Speaking to French daily news channel CNews, Pannier-Runacher said that France is ahead of its goals, and the country's strategic gas reserves would be 100 percent filled by Nov. 1.
Energy shortages are possible both in France and in the rest of the European Union (EU) this winter due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and therefore Pannier-Runacher asked the French to reduce their electricity and gas consumption.
France is counting on the solidarity of countries including Germany for its electricity imports, she added, and in turn the four liquefied natural gas terminals currently in operation in France must also be used to support Germany.
The French minister also defended the EU's decision to import gas from Azerbaijan to compensate for the absence of Russian gas.
"I do not believe we have any interest in the EU being economically weak and not protecting its population next winter," she said. ■