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France accused Moscow on Tuesday of using energy supply as "a weapon of war" as Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) reduced deliveries to one of its main utilities and prepared to halt flows along a major pipeline to Germany.

European governments are scrambling to respond to soaring energy costs for businesses and households and to find alternatives to Russian supply to store for winter.

Western nations fear that Moscow is driving up gas prices to try to weaken their resolve in opposing its invasion of Ukraine, a tactic Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday dubbed economic terrorism. Moscow denies it is doing this.

"Very clearly Russia is using gas as a weapon of war and we must prepare for the worst case scenario of a complete interruption of supplies," France's Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told France Inter radio.

She was speaking after French utility Engie (ENGIE.PA) said it would receive less gas from Gazprom from Tuesday because of an unspecified contractual dispute. 

Europe is already on notice that supplies will be squeezed as Gazprom shuts off the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany from Wednesday to Friday for maintenance.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday urged companies to draft energy savings plans by next month, warning they would be hit first if France is forced to ration supply of gas and electricity. 

RISING BILL

European energy ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Sept. 9 to discuss the crisis.

Germany is willing to consider a price cap on gas, several Italian newspapers reported on Tuesday, citing a text message sent by the German economy minister to energy ministers across Europe.

RISING BILL

European energy ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Sept. 9 to discuss the crisis.

Germany is willing to consider a price cap on gas, several Italian newspapers reported on Tuesday, citing a text message sent by the German economy minister to energy ministers across Europe.

The Hague in the Netherlands, home to EU law enforcement agency Europol, last week said it would ask for a temporary exemption of EU sanctions against Russia, as it struggles to find a replacement for its contract with Gazprom.

Sanctions order governments and other public bodies to end existing contracts with Russian companies by October 10. (Reuters)