news France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe’s energy resolve

Europe has filled gas storage, planned for reduced useReduced energy use so far coincided with warmer weatherAnalysts say cold snap will test suppliesGlitch throws Paris homes into

darknessPARIS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - France expects to avoid electricity cuts on Monday but faces a difficult week as the first cold snap of the winter tests Europe's resolve to save

energy and mitigate the economic impact of the Ukraine war.Leaders across the region have said everyone needs to get serious about using less fuel after unusually mild weather

until now had made the task relatively easy.Although Europe's gas storage is almost 90% full after concerted efforts following the disruption of Russian supplies linked to its

invasion of Ukraine, a series of nuclear outages, especially in France, are adding to nervousness of outages.A technical glitch briefly cut off the power in parts of Paris late on

Thursday, prompting one Twitter user to ask: "Is it starting?", while posting an image of a street in darkness.The country is in focus as corrosion has taken a record number of

reactors out of action, reducing its nuclear output to a 30-year low.But despite concerns that supply could fall short at the start of the week as temperatures in Europe plunge,

RTE grid operator said there were no planned cuts for Monday for now.An 8.3% drop in electricity use last week will help, RTE said, adding that 41 of EDF's (EDF.PA) nuclear

reactors should be available from Monday, generating an output of 39 gigawatts, and that should be enough.EDF said it had ramped up output at three nuclear reactors following

repairs, and it hoped to start corrosion repairs at its Penly 2 nuclear reactor in mid January.RISKS RISE IF COLD WEATHER PERSISTSEmeric de Vigan, vice president of power at data

and analytics firm Kpler said efforts by companies and households to reduce consumption should allow France to avoid imposed load-shedding on Monday but risks could increase if the

cold spell persisted all next week.Energy prices, which have hit record levels this year, surged on Friday in response to nervousness demand would outstrip supply, before easing in

later trade.France is one of the most nuclear-power dependent countries and typically generates more than 70% of its electricity from its fleet of 56 reactors as well as providing

about 15% of Europe's total power through exports.The government, which has warned power cuts could happen this winter, said any outages would not exceed two hours and would be

flagged ahead of time.Elsewhere in Europe, Finland's national grid operator Fingrid said the risk of power outages on winter days had increased in the country following another