French President Emmanuel Macron has secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a tour of the Gulf, the French presidency said. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
With the addition of deliveries from Saudi Arabia, France has commitments for 295,000 tonnes per month, representing just over 10 percent of its consumption, the presidency added.
Macron is undertaking a tour of key energy suppliers in the Gulf in an effort to secure oil and diesel supplies and bring down prices in France, after a weekend of violent protests sparked by soaring living costs.
Earlier, France's prime minister said the situation was "calm overnight" after targeted curfews were imposed in Paris and other cities to counter nighttime unrest.
The French president's Gulf tour is aimed at strengthening energy security and stabilising fuel prices on the domestic market. The agreement on additional diesel supplies from the UAE and Bahrain will help meet France's growing energy demand.
Including Saudi Arabia's share, the total volume reaches 295,000 tonnes per month, accounting for more than one-tenth of the country's consumption. This figure reflects France's dependence on external energy sources and the need to diversify them.
Macron's tour comes amid protests that erupted over the weekend. The protests were sparked by soaring living costs. The government's goal is to bring down fuel prices and restore public order.
According to the prime minister's statement, the situation in French cities stabilised overnight after targeted curfews were introduced. These measures are part of the authorities' efforts to counter unrest and ensure the safety of citizens.
The French government continues negotiations with international partners to strengthen energy independence and stabilise prices on the domestic market. Macron's Gulf tour is an important step in this strategy.