PRICE OF PETROL. The CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, announced on Wednesday February 22, 2023 the upcoming fuel price cap in all the group’s stations. Both gasoline and diesel, the maximum price displayed will be 1.99 euros.
[Mis à jour le 22 février 2023 à 21h01] TotalEnergies has announced a cap on fuel prices in its stations, from March 1, until the end of 2023. Through the voice of its CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, interviewed at 20 hours from TF1, the French oil group indicated that all fuels, gasoline and diesel, would be positively affected (Diesel Premier B7, Diesel Premier B10, SP95-E10, SP95-E5, Superethanol E85). Only unleaded 98 and Excellium diesel are not affected by this price limitation due to their primary quality. From this weekend, the group’s motorway service stations will benefit from this rate.
With the end of the rebates granted by the Government, the price of fuel had started to rise again since the beginning of the year. An increase that went badly with motorists, especially after the announcement of record profits in 2022, to the tune of 19 billion euros, on February 8. That same day, Patrick Pouyanné said he was ready to “consider” a new discount. Tuesday morning, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, had put a little pressure on the brand by calling on the “spirit of responsibility” of the major producers and distributors, and TotalEnergies in particular, urging them to make a new ” gesture”.
On Monday February 20, 2023, the average prices for liters of fuel observed and noted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition were 1.8382 for diesel, i.e. on average one cent more than the previous week. The liter of unleaded 95 E10 was displayed on average at 1.8776 euros. Between the beginning of January and the beginning of February 2023, prices rose on average in France by more than 12 cents for diesel (compared to the first statement of the year 2023, transmitted on January 3) and by 24 cents for a liter of without -lead 95.
The last peak was observed in mid-November during the reduction of government aid with an average price of 1.9059 for diesel and 1.7514 for unleaded 95 E10. The reason for the price hike? The international context, especially with the sanctions taken against Russia following the start of the war in Ukraine. The European Union has opted for a gradual boycott of Russian oil, which leads to an increase in demand for oil from other regions, in particular the Arabian Peninsula, and ultimately in prices. Oil prices regularly crossed the 100 dollar per barrel mark in March 2022 before stabilizing around 80 euros per barrel.
In addition to moderating your travels, practicing carpooling if you can, the best thing is still to compare the prices charged in the service stations around your home. Tedious? Not that much since many sites offer this service on the internet. You can also refer to the official government website, combustible.gouv.fr, which offers to find the prices that must be indicated to the State by the managers of service stations.
The Essence&Co app also offers this service via collaborative data provided by Internet users. You can find the search engine below. It is possible to compare fuel prices at service stations near you. Available on Android or iPhone, it offers daily fuel prices based on user feedback to indicate current prices.
The government websiteprice.fuel.gouv.fr” also offers you price statements by department and type of fuel (Be careful to clearly differentiate lead-free 95, 98 or E10). Price statements are updated weekly. Something to help you find the cheapest service station(s) through an interactive map listing the service stations near you.
As you have noticed, there are sometimes sometimes substantial price differences depending on the service station: between distributor brands (supermarkets in particular) and oil group stations, the difference can sometimes seem significant. It is explained by various parameters including the brand image, but also the famous additives. You may know them by their trade name. Excellium fuel, for example in the Total network, contains many additives. Incorporated into the fuel, they are used to improve its quality and therefore its performance. Also intended to protect the engine or the tank, they also act on the higher prices, which occasionally gives rise to controversy over their usefulness. Marketing argument used to justify these prices or real benefit for the car, the debate is lively.
What is the share of taxes in the price of gasoline at the pump? According to Total, taxes represent “the most important part of the price of fuel”. In 2018, according to the company, the taxes collected by the State represented for example “63% of the price of Unleaded 95-E10 and 60% of that of diesel”. Gasoline tax is in fact divided into two different taxes: VAT, and the domestic consumption tax on energy products (TICPE). There is also the general tax on polluting activities (TGAP). The TICPE is also higher on gasoline than on diesel. Depending on gasoline prices, the TICPE represents nearly 70 cents on gasoline, 60 cents on the price of a liter of diesel.