- Aug 30
TotalEnergies keeps French fuel price caps for duration of Middle East conflict
CEO Patrick Pouyanné confirmed TotalEnergies will cap petrol at 1.99 euros and diesel at 2.25 euros per litre in France for the length of the Middle East conflict, while warning against windfall taxes.
- Aug 28
Economic adviser François Durvye leaves Marine Le Pen's 2027 presidential campaign
François Durvye has stepped down as economic adviser to France's Rassemblement National, parting ways with Marine Le Pen during a MEDEF employers conference debate in Paris.
- Jul 23
EU approves 21st sanctions package against Russia, freezes oil price cap at $44.10 after Greek shipping exemption
After weeks of wrangling, EU ambassadors agreed to freeze the oil price cap at $44.10 per barrel for 12 months, add 32 Russian banks to the transaction ban, and target the shadow fleet, but watered down LNG transport restrictions to satisfy Athens.
- Jul 23
TotalEnergies doubles Q2 profit to $5.4 billion as Middle East war lifts oil prices and reignites France's superprofits tax debate
The French oil major posted a net profit of $5.4 billion for the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.7 billion a year earlier, while adjusted net income reached $6 billion. The surge was fuelled by the three-month Brent average of $97 per barrel, a 45 percent year-on-year jump driven by the conflict in the Middle East and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
