The consumption of petroleum products in France remains worrying according to the figures of the French Union of Oil Industries (Ufip) published last Thursday. While the Multiannual Energy Program (PPE) sets the objective of a 5% annual decrease in the consumption of each fossil fuel between 2022 and 2028, the consumption of oil products reached 69 million tons in 2022, an increase of 5% compared to three years earlier.
Results far from the mark
The president of Ufip, Olivier Gantois, stressed that the decline in demand for fossil fuels was not keeping pace with the objectives set by France, adding that companies must fight every day to obtain drilling authorizations and permit renewals to continue to exploit the small deposits located in French territory.
Crude oil production in France, mainly located in the geological Paris Basin and the greater Southwest, is scheduled to end in 2040. In 2022, France produced about 600,000 tons of crude oil. For road fuels, total consumption increased by 2.2% compared to 2021, down 1.6% compared to 2019. Deliveries of unleaded gasoline rose by 11% year-on-year, while diesel fuel fell by 0.4% despite a decline in diesel vehicle registrations.
Drying up the supply of petroleum products will not solve the problem
The president of Ufip warned against the temptation to try to dry up the supply of oil products. According to him, this approach will only create “just chaos and social problems that are very difficult to manage”, and will not stop the demand for fossil fuels. He believes that it is necessary to continue the efforts of energy transition and research of new energy sources, while maintaining the French oil production.
The shift to diesel should allow France to be “self-sufficient in diesel by 2035” while it currently imports half of its diesel consumption. However, the consumption of petroleum products remains a major concern for achieving the climate objectives set by France and the European Union.
France must continue its energy transition efforts
Faced with this situation, France must continue its energy transition efforts and accelerate the search for new energy sources. The development of renewable energies, the thermal renovation of buildings, the deployment of electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as the promotion of alternative modes of transportation are all measures that must be intensified to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
