PARIS, June 27, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - France has become the latest country to

reconsider its energy options because of the war in Ukraine, announcing
Sunday it was looking into reopening a recently closed coal-fired power
station.

The energy transition ministry said it was considering reopening the station
at Saint-Avold in eastern France this winter, "given the situation in
Ukraine" and the effect it was having on the energy markets.

"We are keeping open the possibility of being able to put the Saint-Avold
station back in action for a few hours more if we need it next winter," said
a ministry statement, confirming a report on RTL radio.

But France would still be producing less than one percent of its electricity
through coal power, and no Russian coal would be used, the statement added.

President Emmanuel Macron's commitment to eventually shut all France's coal-
fired stations remained unchanged, the ministry statement said.

Saint-Avold was only closed on March 31, and the only coal-fired power
station still operating in France is in Cordemais, in the west of the
country.

Most of France's electricity production comes from nuclear power: 67 percent
in 2020. In the same year, coal only accounted for 0.3 percent.

Austria, Germany and the Netherlands have all announced recently that they
would be making greater use of coal for their energy needs because of the
effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The war there has sent global energy prices soaring and raised the prospect
of shortages if supplies are cut off.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has already stopped deliveries to a number of
European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland and the Netherlands.

But the shift back towards fossil fuels has caused alarm in the European
Commission, and among environmental campaigners.

They point to the risk that the European Union will miss its targets for
cutting back on polluting energy sources, and potentially disastrous
consequences for the climate.