Fuel distributors' meeting: no price controls, according to one participant

Those close to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had mentioned on Wednesday the possibility of proceeding with a "cap on margins" or of using mechanisms to "smooth out the increases and decreases" in fuel prices.

"We discussed various issues, different possibilities, but at the end of the meeting, no decision was made on any kind of price regulation," said Francis Pousse, president of the professional association Mobilians, which represents 5.800 traditional service stations (excluding large stores).

"It is the role of the ministers to commit us to moderating our margins which are already low, so that is what we will continue to do," he continued, inviting people to monitor "the trend that the prices of petroleum products will take."

Before the meeting, the giant TotalEnergies announced that it would maintain its cap on the price of gasoline at 1,99 euros per litre in its service stations, and raise the cap to 2,09 euros per litre for diesel.

Major retailers such as E.Leclerc and Coopérative U had already committed on Wednesday to significant price reductions in the coming days, of around 30 cents in the case of E.Leclerc stores.

"I don't know Michel-Edouard Leclerc's magic formula for making 30 cents (...). We'll see on Saturday or Sunday if we actually have 30 cent reductions. In any case, we are subject to the market economy," said Mr. Pousse, who represents 5.800 independent service stations out of approximately 10.000 service stations in total in France.

"Given our low margins, we cannot compete with Mr. Leclerc over a 30 cent discount," he concluded, fearing for the stations, particularly rural ones, that he represents.

At the start of the meeting, Economy Minister Roland Lescure expressed his wish to "work together to ensure that the impact of this intense conflict is as limited as possible (...) for our fellow citizens."

The ministers did not comment after the meeting.