Gulf Nations to Supply 10% of France's Diesel Needs Amidst Energy Price Concerns

Sources from the Elysee have indicated that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain are set to supply France with diesel equivalent to 10 percent of its consumption in the upcoming weeks. This initiative aims to alleviate energy prices in Europe, which have been a significant factor in recent protests and public discontent in France.

An advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron explained the strategy, stating, “The greater the quantity, the lower the price. It’s quite simple.” A substantial portion of this agreement was secured by Mr. Macron during his recent tour of the Gulf, which commenced in Kuwait and the UAE and is scheduled to continue to Bahrain and Qatar.

Previously, France had secured commitments from Saudi Arabia for the sale of 95,000 tonnes of diesel for both October and November, totaling 190,000 tonnes over the two-month period. Furthermore, the UAE and Bahrain are expected to separately provide France with an additional 100,000 tonnes of diesel in the coming weeks, though the exact duration of these sales remains unspecified.

The advisor highlighted the political nature of these agreements, noting, “These are political commitments obtained from countries in the region because they know us and they know we are reliable—because we have been there during every critical moment, notably by deploying air defence capabilities.” The sales transactions are slated to be managed by the French energy conglomerate TotalEnergies, with its CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, accompanying Mr. Macron on his Gulf visit.