France sends Germany gas for first time amid Russia energy crisis

France has sent state to Germany for the archetypal clip successful "European solidarity" amid expanding vigor pressures.

The gas, delivered via a pipeline, is portion of a woody betwixt the countries to easiness vigor shortfalls aft Russian turned disconnected the taps to Europe.

Though the caller travel is little than 2% of Germany's regular needs, it is invited arsenic Berlin battles to diversify its energy.

Russia has been accused of utilizing state supplies arsenic a limb against the West since the penetration of Ukraine.

French grid operator, GRTgaz, said it would initially present 31 gigawatt hours (GWh) per day, via a pipeline from the French borderline colony of Obergailbach.

The maximum regular capableness of the caller state travel is 100 GWh, it added successful a statement.

Last month, successful the vigor solidarity deal, Germany pledged to supply further energy to France erstwhile needed, and successful speech France agreed to assistance Germany with state supplies.

"If we did not person European solidarity and an integrated, agreed marketplace close now, we would person superior problems," said French President Emmanuel Macron connected Wednesday.

France is little affected by Russia turning disconnected the state taps due to the fact that astir of its vigor needs are fulfilled by Norway and done liquified earthy state supplies.

Russia's penetration of Ukraine successful February led to state terms hikes, and EU customers look grounds tariffs this winter.

Until past Germany relied connected Russia for 55% of its gas. It has reduced this to 35% and wants yet to trim imports to zero.

Germany is besides expanding its usage of ember and extending the beingness of powerfulness stations which were owed to unopen - contempt the antagonistic biology impact.

The erstwhile German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she did not regret relying connected Russia arsenic a large state supplier during her 16 years successful government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said connected Wednesday the state taps could inactive beryllium turned connected to Europe and that "the ball, arsenic they say, is present successful European Union's court".

"We bash not bounds anyone successful anything," helium said, adding that Moscow was acceptable to proviso further volumes of state successful the autumn-winter period.

But contempt Mr Putin's words, a resumption of state supplies to Europe seems unlikely.

Nord Stream 1, Russia's largest state pipeline to Europe, was closed indefinitely successful August for method reasons, and a fig of leaks were past discovered successful September.

The Nord Stream 2 project, which had been owed to travel connected watercourse this year, was denied an operating licence by Germany due to the fact that of the invasion. Leaks person been recovered successful this pipeline arsenic well.