France unveils electrification plan to cut fossil fuel dependence

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu outlined a national electrification plan on Friday aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening the country’s energy sovereignty.

The plan centres on expanding domestic electricity use, drawing on France’s nuclear fleet and scaling up renewables. Fossil fuels still account for around 60% of the country’s energy consumption.

“A country is only truly free if it can stand firm when the world is in turmoil,” Lecornu said, arguing that France must curb its dependence on imported oil and gas.

“As long as we depend on oil and gas, we will continue to pay for other people’s wars,” Lecornu added.

To accelerate the shift, the government will nearly double annual support for electrification, from €5.5 billion to €10 billion by 2030, targeting housing, transport, industry and digital infrastructure.

Heat pumps 

Housing is a central pillar of the plan. A ban on gas boilers in new buildings will take effect at the end…