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).
- France is one of the world's largest nuclear power producers, but has limited fossil fuel resources.
- Oil's share of France's total energy consumption has declined by almost half since 1973.
- France imports almost all of its natural gas needs.
- France was one of the last EU members to open its natural gas sector to foreign companies.
- France has natural gas pipeline connections to Norway, Spain, Russia, and the Netherlands.
- France is the largest importer of LNG in the EU.
- The last coalmine in France closed in April 2004.
- France is the largest net exporter of electricity in the EU
- Per capita, France is the largest producer of nuclear power in the world
- Due to its reliance on nuclear power, the French economy has one of the lowest carbon-intensive economies in the OECD.
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