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French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Commission to temporarily ease several European Union fuel rules in an effort to increase supplies and contain prices, while the French government prepares new support measures for households affected by rising fuel costs, BFM TV reported on Monday.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dated Sept. 18, Macron proposed temporarily relaxing fuel quality specifications, allowing greater flexibility in diesel biofuel blending and delaying new obligations for fossil fuel importers.
Macron said the proposed steps could strengthen short-term import and production capacity and increase supplies available on the domestic market. Temporarily adjusting fuel quality requirements could raise refinery output by between 5% and 20%, depending on the facility.
What changes is France seeking?
The specifications cover issues including fuel density, vaporization limits and desulfurization requirements. Macron noted that diesel sold for use on US roads can contain up to 15 parts per million of sulfur, compared with the EU limit of 10 parts per million.
He also called for more flexibility over diesel biofuel blending. The current B7 standard permits up to 7% biodiesel, while B10 allows a blend of up to 10%. Macron said broader use of B10 could support diesel supplies and give the market additional flexibility.
The European Commission has said B10 has slightly lower energy content and could lead to a very small increase in consumption.
Macron further proposed postponing by one year a requirement scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Under the rule, crude oil, natural gas and coal importers would have to prove that suppliers meet EU-equivalent standards for measuring and controlling methane emissions.
He said the requirement could expose importers to additional litigation risks. The European Commission has recommended delaying financial sanctions under the rules until the end of 2029.
Concerns over global oil supplies
Macron said temporary measures were necessary because of disruptions to global oil supplies following the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz since March. He said the disruption had reduced global oil supplies and altered hydrocarbon trade flows.
According to Macron, global oil stocks have fallen by more than 500 million barrels. He warned that further disruptions, including attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia and the Middle East and rising demand in Asia, could place additional pressure on supplies.
Without the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, global crude oil supplies could decline by at least another 4 million barrels per day, Macron said, potentially driving prices higher.
Europe is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in refined petroleum products, he added, with the EU depending on the Middle East for 36% of its kerosene imports and 18% of its diesel imports.
Macron also supported accelerating electrification efforts at the European level and reducing natural gas consumption, particularly for heating.
France to announce domestic support measures
The French government is expected to announce new measures on Tuesday to support people affected by higher fuel prices. Ministers will present the measures at a news conference at the Economy Ministry in Paris at 5 p.m. local time, or 1500 GMT.
The announcement follows meetings on fuel prices held at the prime minister’s office on Monday. The Elysee Palace said France was also working to facilitate the peaceful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard energy supplies.
