SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

France: Equinor and Danske fined €12 million: Companies challenge CRE’s decision

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has imposed a €12 million fine on Equinor and Danske Commodities for market manipulation during gas transport auctions. Equinor disputes the decision and has announced its intention to appeal.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

SUBSCRIBE - 99$/year

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced a financial penalty against Norwegian group Equinor and its Danish subsidiary Danske Commodities. These companies are accused of manipulating annual auctions for gas transport capacities between France and Spain in 2019 and 2020.

A sanction for market rule violations

The Dispute Settlement and Sanctions Committee (CoRDiS) of the CRE fined Danske Commodities €8 million and Equinor €4 million. This decision is based on a violation of the European regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT).

According to the CRE, both companies placed extreme bids during the auctions: Danske Commodities requested the maximum capacity (82,286 kWh/h), while Equinor requested the minimum (1 kWh/h). This allocation led to the interconnection point being classified as “congested,” triggering a tariff mechanism that reduced the cost of intra-annual capacities, benefiting Danske.

Equinor rejects any accusations of collusion

Equinor immediately responded to the sanction through its Executive Vice President for Marketing, Irene Rummelhoff. “We disagree with the CRE’s decision that alleged collusion took place,” she stated in a press release.

The Norwegian group confirmed its intention to appeal the sanction before the French Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court. This challenge aims to contest the CoRDiS conclusions regarding an alleged concerted action between Equinor and Danske Commodities.

Impact on the gas market

This decision comes as European regulatory authorities intensify their scrutiny of market practices. The financial penalties against Equinor and Danske Commodities reflect an increased effort to prevent manipulations that could distort pricing and affect competition.

The natural gas sector, already facing geopolitical tensions and price volatility, may see further investigations in the future. The outcome of Equinor’s appeal will be closely monitored by market players, concerned about potential implications for auction rules and cross-border capacity management.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Petro-Victory secures $300,000 loan with attached warrants
Valeura revives deep gas in Turkey through strategic partnership
Air Liquide invests $50mn to expand its hydrogen network in Texas
GCL equips 146,000 modules for 76 MW agrivoltaic solar plant in Germany
Bercy veto blocks ABB’s attempt to acquire Legrand
INNIO to deliver 80 MW to strengthen power grid stability in Indonesia
Soaring electricity demand in Batam, driven by new data centres, leads INNIO and MPower Daya Energia to secure 80 MW and launch a five-year maintenance programme.
Tamboran completes drilling of three wells ahead of 2026 production tests
Tamboran has completed a three-well drilling campaign in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, with 12,000 metres of horizontal sections prepared for stimulation and maintenance ahead of the commercial phase.
Calpine secures Texas Energy Fund loan for 460 MW peaking power plant
Calpine Corporation has finalised a public funding agreement to accelerate the construction of a peaking power plant in Freestone County, strengthening Texas’s grid response capacity during peak demand periods.
Naftogaz proposes integrating its gas storage into EU strategic reserve plan
Naftogaz urges the European Union to use Ukraine’s gas storage capacity as part of a strategic reserve system, while calling for the end of storage filling obligations after 2027.
Enagás in talks to acquire GIC’s stake in French gas transporter Terega
Spanish gas infrastructure operator Enagás is in advanced talks to acquire the 32% stake held by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC in Terega, valued at around €600mn ($633mn), according to sources familiar with the matter.
BP launches five-well offshore gas drilling campaign in Egypt
BP has awarded Valaris a $140mn drilling contract for a Mediterranean offshore campaign aimed at reinforcing Egypt’s declining gas output since 2021.
Egypt to drill 480 new oil and gas wells by 2030
Egypt’s petroleum ministry will launch 480 exploration wells by 2030 with investments exceeding $5.7bn, aiming to revive production and reduce reliance on imports.
Japanese LNG buyers accelerate flexible trading amid falling domestic demand
Faced with declining domestic consumption, Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) importers are ramping up commercial optimisation strategies and favouring shorter contracts to protect profitability.
Europe’s gas: summer storage sets a floor under TTF
European inventories curbed price declines as liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply expands and demand stays weak. Cargo arbitrage favours Europe, but winter will determine the equilibrium level. —
Midad Energy signs $5.4bn contract with Sonatrach in Algeria
Sonatrach and Midad Energy North Africa signed a production-sharing hydrocarbon contract in the Illizi South perimeter, involving a total investment estimated at $5.4bn for exploration and exploitation of the site.
Koweït découvre un champ gazier offshore de 28,3 milliards de m³
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation annonce une découverte majeure dans la zone offshore avec le champ de Jazah, soutenant les efforts publics d’investissement dans les infrastructures énergétiques nationales.
Rockpoint raises C$704mn in IPO and cedes nearly 40% of capital to public investor
Rockpoint Gas Storage finalised its initial public offering in Canada with an upsized offer of 32 million shares for gross proceeds of C$704mn ($512mn), marking a new step in Brookfield’s partial divestment strategy.
Africa Energy granted regulatory reprieve for South African offshore Block 11B/12B
Africa Energy postpones submission of its environmental impact assessment for Block 11B/12B following a recent court ruling affecting offshore exploration authorisations in South Africa.
The European Union ensures gas security for winter despite halt in Russian supplies
The European Union’s gas system shows reinforced resilience for winter 2025-2026, even without Russian imports, according to the latest forecast by European gas transmission network operators.
Venture Global sinks 20% after legal defeat to BP over LNG contract dispute
US LNG producer Venture Global saw its market value drop sharply after an arbitral ruling in favour of BP reignited concerns over ongoing contractual disputes tied to the Calcasieu Pass project.
Pembina Pipeline raises $225mn to redeem its Series 9 preferred shares
Pembina Pipeline Corporation has completed a $225mn subordinated note offering to fund the redemption of its Series 9 preferred shares, marking a new step in its capital management strategy.
Jihadist attacks resume in Palma, threatening TotalEnergies’ gas project in Mozambique
A jihadist attack targeted Palma, a strategic area in northern Mozambique, marking a return of insecurity near TotalEnergies' suspended gas project since 2021.
Fermi America secures firm gas supply from Energy Transfer for HyperGrid campus launch
Fermi America has signed an agreement with Energy Transfer to secure a firm natural gas supply for powering Phase One of its HyperGrid energy campus, dedicated to artificial intelligence, near Amarillo, Texas.
Rockpoint Gas Storage raises C$704mn in Canadian IPO
Rockpoint Gas Storage priced its initial public offering at C$22 per share, raising C$704mn ($515mn) through the sale of 32 million shares, with an over-allotment option expanding the transaction to 36.8 million shares.
Tailwater raises $1.1bn to strengthen Producers Midstream and support its expansion
Tailwater Capital secures $600mn in debt and $500mn in equity to recapitalise Producers Midstream II and support infrastructure development in the southern United States.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

START - 99$/year

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.