It has prompted French gas grid GRTgaz to call on utilities to raise LNG imports into the southern Fos terminal urgently to avoid a supply crunch, it said on its website.

This comes after French energy officials, the regulator and GRTgaz repeatedly voiced concern over the past few months about low gas stocks in France ahead of winter. Cold weather across northwest Europe drained storage last year.

"The gas market in southern France is facing major tensions at the start of the winter," France's energy regulator CRE said. "The CRE reminds market players of their responsibilities."

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