AFP

Another step towards reducing Russian gas shipments to France was taken on Tuesday with the announcement by Engie Group of an additional cut in deliveries for giant Gazprom, raising concerns about winter supplies despite large volumes in stock. The French energy company Engie announced in a brief statement that the Russian giant Gazprom informed it of an additional and immediate reduction of its gas shipments "due to a dispute between the two parties over the implementation of contracts." And shipments of Russian gas to Engie have fallen significantly since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, recently reaching just 1.5 TWh per month. This figure is related to "the total annual supply in Europe of more than 400 TWh" for Engie, says the main gas supplier in France, in which the French state owns a stake of about 24 percent. At the end of July, Engy confirmed that it had significantly reduced its “financial and physical exposure to Russian gas,” which no longer represents only about 4% of its supplies. "This is within the margins of our investment portfolio's flexibility, so we are not worried at all," the company's managing director, Catherine McGregor, said at the time. The group said Tuesday that it has taken measures to be able to supply its customers even in the event of an interruption in Gazprom's shipments. "Inge has secured the necessary quantities to ensure the supply of its customers and their special needs," it said in its statement. Last Thursday, French gas stocks crossed the 90% filling threshold for the winter season (91,47% Tuesday morning) according to European platform Agregated Gas Storage Inventory, and France is on track to meet its target of 100% gas security by November