The CEO of the group Patrick Pouyanné “promised that he would make a discount, it is good that the promises are kept by everyone”, declared Bruno Le Maire in particular on Monday morning.
Patrick Pouyanné’s words did not fall on deaf ears. After the CEO of TotalEnergies raised the possibility of introducing a new rebate on fuels last week, the government is pushing the oil giant to move from words to action. Patrick Pouyannehas made promises, it is generally better that promises be kept“, Pointed Bruno Le Maire this Monday morning on RTL. “He promised he would make a discount, it’s good that promises are kept by everyone“, he repeated.
More precisely, the boss of TotalEnergies said to himself “ready to consider a discount“, on the sidelines of the presentation of the annual results of his group last Wednesday. He added “have the feeling that you will have to look at what to do beyond two euros», emphasizing the «psychological thresholdrepresented by this price, but without giving details of the amount or the conditions of such discount. Today, the average price of unleaded 95-E10 stands at 1.90 euros per liter, and the liter of diesel at 1.89 euros, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, which must communicate on Monday its data for the past week.
Call for “a new gesture”
Also this Monday morning, Clément Beaune joined the words of Bruno Le Maire, the Minister Delegate for Transport inviting TotalEnergies, on Europe 1, to “align actions with words“. “Even if I think we need to think more deeply about financing the ecological transition“, he added. For his part, Gabriel Attal had declared a few minutes earlier, on France 2, to wish that “companies that can, and in particular Total, can make a new gesture» for «French people who go to work every day and need their vehicle to go to work“.
On Tuesday, it was the government spokesman who increased the pressure on the oil group. “We ask them to make an effort. We would like there to be, in addition to the State measures which come to help the purchasing power of the French people, measures carried by sellers and fuel producers“Said Olivier Véran. And to launch an appeal to Patrick Pouyanné to establish a discount “as soon as possible” : “We ask him (to engage) for a few days“. “It faces a lot of implementation issues. I don’t think it’s done in 24 hours“Nevertheless relativized the member of the government.
Read alsoFuels: TotalEnergies ready to give a rebate at the pump, if prices exceed two euros per liter
As a reminder, the rebate at the pump granted by the French energy company, which in 2022 generated the best profit in its history (20.5 billion dollars, or 19 billion euros), ended on December 31 last. It was added to that of the State, which also died at the end of last year. The executive is closing the door to a new gesture of this type, insisting on the fuel allowance for low-income workers which it launched last month, and which can finally be requested until the end of March, announced Bruno Le Mayor on Monday.