The general meeting of the oil giant TotalEnergies, CEO Patrick Pouyanné was reappointed. More than 150 environmental activists were arrested on the sidelines of a militant action in Paris.
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On a square crisscrossed by around ten police vehicles inside a building protected by gates and porticos, around 750 shareholders were able to participate in the AGM of the French oil major. During this annual meeting, the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, saw his mandate renewed for three years but more than one shareholder in five voted against the group’s balance sheet and climate strategy, a proportion that is increasing.
The CEO promised them to “ stay focus », a way to stand out from its competitors BP and Shell, which have announced a slowdown in the pace of their energy transition. “ I confirm to you, no need to say it, but if some doubt it, we will stay the course of this balanced strategy “, between oil and gas on the one hand, and low-carbon energies on the other, declared the 60-year-old CEO, whose company prides itself on being more profitable, less in debt, more solid, and more generous for its shareholders. “ TotalEnergies demonstrates every day that it is possible once again to be a profitable company, even the most profitable. “, he added.
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Among the shareholders, Bernard Butori, president of a Total employee association, was present. He says he is satisfied with the company’s current trajectory: “ The energy transition requires the production of hydrocarbon fields as long as demand is not met by carbon-free renewable energies and this is the case today. The energy transition is not going to happen in 24 hours so that’s why, it’s not by hitting on the best student and under the pretext that he’s not doing enough that we’ll get there. “, he believes.
But this argument does not convince Alexandre, a student in a major Parisian school. A future engineer specializing in transition energies, he is one of these committed students who has already taken action against the firm. He wanted to be present for this general meeting because, according to him, TotalEnergies’ strategy “ is not at all good in relation to the objectives of the Paris agreement and everything that the International Energy Agency says “. “ Patrick Pouyanné has already said it, he is aiming for 3 degrees of warming, I don’t know if we realize it, but it’s unbearable », Regrets the young man.
“ They can invest a third of their budget in renewable energies but if we continue with fossil fuels, that does not solve the problem. And that’s not their strategy. This is materialized by theAngola and the‘South Africathere is EACOP… They continue », fears Alexandre.
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Activist action
Meanwhile, an action took place in front of the premises of asset manager Amundi, one of the main shareholders of oil giant TotalEnergies. One hundred and seventy-three people were arrested during this day. Several hundred activists had been surrounded by the police from 11 a.m. at the foot of the high glass tower which houses the company, in the 15th arrondissement of the capital, noted an AFP journalist.
We made the decision to act where the money is.
Extinction Rebellion response
Earlier in the morning, several dozen people had forced their way to enter the building, a police source said, adding that an intervention by the police was then underway. Part of the facade was sprayed with paint and windows were broken.