France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has announced plans to phase out the use of gas boilers in new construction from 2027, as part of a wider effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen energy sovereignty, reports Anadolu. In a speech addressed to the nation, Lecornu said that “by the end of 2026 it will no longer be possible to install gas boilers in new buildings”. The move comes at a time of heightened concerns about energy security following recent tensions in the Middle East, which Lecornu said show how global crises are directly affecting the cost of living in France. “As long as we depend on oil and gas, we will continue to pay the price of other people’s wars,” he said, emphasizing that energy policy should be treated as a matter of national security and not only as a market issue. The government will simultaneously expand support for alternatives, especially heat pumps, to replace gas and oil heating systems. Public subsidies will be re-directed to accelerate electrification, with the aim of installing up to 1 million heat pumps annually by 2030. Lecornu said the policy aims to protect households from volatile fuel prices while boosting domestic industry, noting that electricity produced in France is cheaper than fossil fuels. The transition will also target social housing, where a significant proportion of homes still use gas heating. The government plans to convert 2 million social housing units from gas by 2050, giving priority to families in need. More broadly, France aims to replace 85 terawatt-hours of gas consumption with domestically produced energy by 2030, equivalent to current gas imports. He presented this shift as part of a broader economic and strategic agenda, linking energy independence with national sovereignty. “The electrification of France is both an individual and a collective necessity,” said Lecornu, adding that the transition will be implemented through long-term planning, ensuring that “no one is left behind.” The government also aims to accelerate the use of electric vehicles, with the target of two out of three new cars sold by 2030 being electric, supported by subsidies and social rental schemes for lower-income households. Lecornu said that other details of the reforms will be presented by the ministers in the coming days.