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French gas supplies adequate for cold winter, say grid operators

France has enough gas to handle an incredibly cold winter season, helped by imports from other European countries, though need conserving procedures are still advised for domestic customers, gas grid operators GRTgaz and Terega said on Wednesday.

Warmer than average winter seasons and demand reduction procedures assisted France to withstand the worst impacts of skyrocketing energy prices in the two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, however questions remained over strength in the face of extreme temperatures.

The possible halt to Russian gas materials to Europe by means of Ukraine in January 2025 could be problematic for eastern Europe but is not anticipated to have significant impact this winter thanks to great storage levels, the groups stated in their report.

Gas storage is currently 95% complete, though filling levels require to be kept in case of a late cold wave, they stated.

With routine restocking of gas products from Norway, the Netherlands and Spain, along with from melted gas ( LNG), storage suffices for incredibly cold winter season scenarios for the French grid, they said.

By the end of the year, regasification capacity for LNG in Europe is anticipated to increase by 13% from 2023, GRTgaz and Terega information showed.

In the case of a really cold winter season, stock will require to be protected during the very first part of winter and demand reduction efforts will be needed in residential heating, comparable to the previous 2 winters, they stated.

But even with a very cold winter season, France can count on regular gas transit to Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, the groups said.

Wholesale gas rates are around 40 euros per megawatt hour ( MWh) in both spot and futures markets, with rate volatility lowered substantially, showing more self-confidence in European gas supply, they said.

There has likewise been a greater correlation in between markets, signalling a return to normality between affiliations, they added.

(source: Reuters)