France accelerates shift to electric power amid global energy price surges

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecoru has unveiled measures to move away from the country's dependency on fossil fuels and shift to electric power after the US-Israeli war on Iran caused a spike in oil and gas prices when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.

“The war in the Middle East is not ours, and yet it affects us very directly,” Lecornu said in a speech on Friday.

“Fortunately, France has an asset: electricity generated on its own soil,” he added.

Lecornu said that France will double its state support for electricity, increasing it by €10bn (£8.72bn) by 2030, and install an additional one million heat pumps every year between now and then.

France has allowed the US planes to use its bases for non-combat missions.