France, May 28 -- Some 200 companies from across the French economy signed the national electrification pact at the Elysee Palace as part of an energy plan unveiled in February.

"This is a major transformation plan involving 6,000 companies and will create or maintain more than 600,000 jobs," Macron said.

France needs to make electrification "natural and desirable", he added, "because it's good for purchasing power, it's good for competitiveness, it's good for ​the country's independence".

In April, the government announced 22 measures to boost demand for locally-produced electricity, thereby reducing France's dependence on oil and gas purchased abroad at a time when the war in Iran has sent hydrocarbon prices soaring.

The gover...