Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: France
| Location: | Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain,0 |
| Climate: | generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral |
| Terrain: | mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east |
| Size: | 547030 sq. km total (Land area: 545630 sq. km Water area: 1400 sq.km) |
| Population: | 60,876,136 in metropolitan France (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) |
| Government: | republic |
| Capital city: | Paris |
| Legal system: | civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
In 2004, France consumed 11.2 quadrillion Btu of total energy. Nuclear energy was the largest share, representing 39 percent, followed by oil (36 percent), natural gas (16 percent) and hydroelectricity (5 percent). France is the second-largest producer of nuclear power in the world, after the United States, however, nuclear energy is a much larger share of France’s total energy consumption than the United States (8 percent in 2004).
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 73,180 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 1 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Consumption: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Exports: | 474,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 863 million cu m (2004 est.) |
| Imports: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Reserves: | 158 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 341 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
France - recent news
| 23 Jun 25 |
France: Europe’s largest floating solar power plant inaugurated in France by Q ENERGY and Velto Renewables Europe's largest floating solar park, 'Les Ilots Blandin', has been officially inaugurated by Q ENERGY and Velto Renewables in the municipality of Perthes in the Haute-Marne region of France. |
| 18 Jun 25 |
Paris Air Show: TotalEnergies signs a deal with Quatra to secure feedstock for its biorefineries TotalEnergies and Quatra, the European market leader in the collection and recycling of used cooking oil, have signed a 15-year agreement beginning in 2026, for the supply of 60,000 tons a year of European used cooking oil to TotalEnergies’ biorefineries. This deal contributes to secure the feedstock to produce biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). |
| 17 Jun 25 |
Paris Air Show: TotalEnergies, a pioneer in sustainable aviation fuels and committed to the decarbonization of air transport TotalEnergies is working towards the decarbonization of air transportation, with the production and distribution to its customers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As from 2028, the Company will be able to produce more than half a million tons of SAF a year to cover the increase in the European SAF blending mandate, set at 6% for 2030. |
| 10 Jun 25 |
France: RWE inaugurates its first wind farm in Brittany, France RWE has announced the official inauguration of the Beg Ar C’Hra wind farm, located in the municipalities of Plounévez-Moëdec and Plounérin, in Brittany, France. The project was co-developed in partnership with the Lannion-Trégor semi-public company (SEM). |
| 05 Jun 25 |
France: Ocean Winds celebrates 'first power' at the Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore wind farm Ocean Winds celebrates the successful generation of first power from the Îles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm. Following a successful initial testing phase that began on Friday, May 23rd, the project’s first units are now connected to the national grid, supplying clean, renewable energy. |
France - more news
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