French President Emmanuel Macron has secured a series of energy supply agreements during his tour of the Middle East, including visits to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Under the agreements, France will receive approximately 100,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the UAE, with a further 100,000 tonnes per month supplied by Bahrain. France has also reached an agreement with Qatar to procure gas equivalent to 2 TWh/month to ensure adequate supplies over the winter.
Macron’s tour of major Gulf energy suppliers aimed to secure supplies and ease fuel price pressures in France, where rising costs have triggered tensions and protests. The agreements are expected to help reduce fuel and transport expenses, “reducing pressure on prices from November” and “avoiding difficulties”, the French President said.