TotalEnergies could stop capping a liter of fuel at 1.99 euros in the event of a new state tax, its CEO Patrick Pouyanné threatened this Friday, October 6 according to comments reported by the ActuLyon site.
The oil group TotalEnergies, which manages a third of the service stations in France, announced on September 12 that it would extend next year the cap of 1.99 euros per liter on the price of gasoline and diesel in its 3 400 stations, “as long as prices remain high”.
An amendment to the finance bill for 2023, tabled by several majority deputies including the general rapporteur for the Budget Jean-René Cazeneuve, proposes to renew for one year the solidarity contribution on the profits of oil groups. They motivate their amendment by the “prolonged nature of inflation in energy prices”.
“I don’t know if we will extend it”
Asked during a trip to Lyon by journalists about a possible extension of the cap at 1.99 euros per liter of fuel by TotalEnergies stations, Patrick Pouyanné replied: “I said it for the year 2023, the government asks to extend it. But if he also wants to put taxes on refining, I don’t know if we will extend it.”
“The current debate seems a little strange to me. I think it is an effective measure and therefore we will maintain it for as long as we can. If the State adds taxes to us, we will reconsider the measure. I am convinced that the right method is for Total to directly benefit the consumer from the efforts we make rather than through taxes,” added the CEO of TotalEnergies.
“I sell with a price locked at 1.99 euros. I can tell you that on a certain number of sales I don’t make any money,” he continued. Asked about a possible reduction in taxes or VAT on gasoline, Patrick Pouyanné replied: “I don’t know if this is the solution but I advocate, I am convinced, that the option of a floating TIPP where blocking taxes based on price is the right thing… because at 2 euros, the French start to shout very loudly.”