The limitation of energy prices in France has been extended until the end of this year, the Prime Minister announced Elizabeth Bourne.

With the protection tariffs, which were first introduced in November last year, Gasoline prices were frozen at the level of October 2021, electricity growth was also limited to a maximum of 4,0 per cent. This measure was supposed to expire on June 30, but has now been extended, reports the portal connexionfrance.com.

Prime Minister Bourne said the decree extending the measure would be issued in the coming days.

"Price restrictions provide consumers with guaranteed tariffs in France, and it is the state that pays the difference in market prices, which are obviously rising significantly in France and other European countries," the French prime minister's office said in a statement.

The Brussels-based Brueghel Research Center estimates that France will spend 38 billion euros for measures aimed at limiting price growth.

French Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pani-Runescher said France could continue without Russian gas as long as the country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserves are sufficient.

"In absolute terms, we could do without Russian gas, assuming all LNG deliveries arrive on time and that we can easily replenish our strategic supplies," she told BFM Business radio on Thursday.