France started exporting natural gas to Germany for the first time this week as the two European nations try to work more closely to replace energy supplies cut by Russia. 

French transmission system operator GRTgaz said Thursday initial daily deliveries of 31 GWh, or roughly 105.7 MMcf/d, are being delivered to Germany via an interconnection point at the French border village of Obergailbach. GRTgaz said maximum daily deliveries would be 100 GWh, or about 341.2 MMcf/d. 

While that represents a small fraction of the 3.5 Tcf that Germany burned last year, the countries agreed in September to an energy solidarity pact. France said it would supply more natural gas, while Germany pledged to produce more electricity to export during peak hours. Prolonged maintenance at French nuclear...