After Russia launched a special military action against Ukraine, the EU followed the United States to impose severe economic sanctions on Russia, including trying to get rid of its dependence on Russian oil and gas, which led to tight energy supply and high prices in Europe. In September, France and Germany signed an energy cooperation agreement, including France's transmission of natural gas to Germany, and Germany's supply of energy to France during peak electricity consumption. According to the Associated Press, Germany's gas storage facilities are now close to 95% of the gas storage target, but the German government requires people to save natural gas this winter.
In France, the French government has been worried that there may be a power shortage this winter, because nearly half of the country's more than 50 nuclear reactors are being closed for maintenance. French natural gas operators announced that France will transport natural gas to Germany for the first time through the border town of Madlesem in Saarland. The power generation is about 3 1 100 million watt-hours. Performance will be evaluated according to network conditions, up to 100 GWh per day. In early September, French President Emmanuel? Macron and German Chancellor Schulz agreed to supply electricity to each other next winter.
France hopes to export natural gas to Germany in exchange for Germany providing more electricity when it needs electricity in winter. Of the 56 nuclear reactors in France, 32 were shut down for routine maintenance or risk assessment. Gazprom said that the natural gas pipeline turbine was not running. The natural gas transported through Beixi No.1 pipeline every day does not exceed 33 million cubic meters, accounting for only 20% of the maximum transportation capacity of the pipeline. Beixi 1 pipeline is the main pipeline for Russia to transport natural gas to Europe, and it is not expected to run at full capacity for the time being.
European benchmark TTF natural gas futures rose nearly 12%, while US natural gas futures rose more than 3%. From Vyborg in eastern Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, Russian natural gas is transported to many European countries.