Energy Crisis from Russia... Eiffel Tower Lights to Turn Off Early

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France (Provided by: Hanatour)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The dazzling lights of the Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Paris, France, are expected to be turned off one hour earlier than usual due to the energy crisis sweeping across Europe.

According to the British daily The Guardian, the Paris City Hall is set to soon propose a plan to keep the Eiffel Tower lights on only until 11:45 PM, instead of the current 1 AM. If this plan is implemented, the Eiffel Tower’s light show, which sparkles with 20,000 bulbs for 5 minutes every hour starting at dusk after midnight, will no longer be visible.

This measure comes amid Russia significantly restricting energy supplies to Europe in retaliation against Western sanctions. Earlier, the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom announced it would halt gas supplies to France starting this month due to payment issues.

The Guardian explained that this policy by the Paris city government is part of efforts to reduce overall city lighting. The Eiffel Tower’s nighttime illumination consumes about 4% of the tower’s annual energy usage, requiring a substantial amount of electricity.

Jean-Fran?ois Martin, president of the Eiffel Tower operating company, said, "This measure is very symbolic," adding, "It reflects the growing awareness of energy issues."

Since its completion in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has recently welcomed over 20,000 visitors daily, recovering to pre-COVID-19 visitor numbers.

As part of the energy-saving movement, various architectural lighting, including the Pharo Palace in southern Marseille, will also be turned off earlier starting at the end of this month. Berlin, Germany, has also shortened nighttime lighting hours for major city landmarks such as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Jewish Museum, and the Victory Column this summer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.