Question 13886 — energy and fuels

Summary

Mr. Pascal Markowsky alerts the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty to the rapid rise in fuel prices in the context of international tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. While the military escalation in the Middle East and the disruptions affecting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz already suggest lasting consequences on energy markets world, the reaction of public authorities appears at this stage largely insufficient to protect the French from a new surge in fuel prices. The first effects of this situation are already being felt at the pump. In several territories, prices increased in just a few days. In Charente-Maritime, the price of diesel is now approaching two euros per liter and even exceeds this threshold in certain stations. In These conditions, a 50 liter tank can already exceed 100 euros for many motorists. This development arouses all the more incomprehension as the increase in the price of a barrel remains, at this stage, relatively limited. However, the tensions around the Strait of Hormuz raise fears of a much greater progression in the weeks to come if the international situation were to deteriorate. In a department like Charente-Maritime, the automobile remains essential for commuting, economic activity and daily travel. Employees, artisans, home helpers, fishermen, farmers and even tourism professionals are directly affected by these increases, immediately compromising their professional activity. This situation is all the more worrying given that the structure of fuel prices in France is largely based on taxation. The price paid at the pump includes in particular the excise on energy products, the amount of which is fixed per liter, as well as the value added tax applied to the final price. This VAT applies not only to the product itself but also to the excise, which automatically leads to an increase in state tax revenue when fuel prices increase. Furthermore, this development fuels the feeling, among many motorists, that the slightest international tension immediately results in an increase in prices at the pump. The discrepancy sometimes observed between the evolution of the price of a barrel and that of the prices charged in certain stations thus fuels the suspicion of a possible windfall effect for certain distribution players. Despite this situation and the concerns expressed in many territories, the Government has indicated that there are no plans to reduce taxation on fuels. In this context, he asks what concrete measures the Government intends to take to anticipate a possible surge in fuel prices linked to international tensions. He also asks him if a temporary adaptation of the excise on energy products is envisaged in order to protect the purchasing power of the French. Finally, he wants to know what control measures will be implemented to ensure that certain distributors do not take advantage of the international situation to increase their margins to the detriment of consumers.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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