discount on fuel, aid for fishermen and energy-intensive businesses… government measures to offset price increases

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“The State will be there”promised the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, by presenting, Wednesday, March 16, a “economic and social resilience plan” to deal with the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. This plan is intended for “protect households and businesses from the immediate consequences of the shock” due, in particular, to the rise in the prices of raw materials and energy.

“We have a duty to prepare for a long crisis”said the Prime Minister, stressing that the repercussions on the European economy were “the inevitable counterpart of the reality and effectiveness of our sanctions”.

Extension of the 15 cents discount on fuel

The Prime Minister announced that the rebate at the pump of 15 centimes per liter of fuel, granted by the government from April for a period of four months, would be extended to natural gas vehicles (NGV) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

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This discount “will concern all French people, in mainland France and overseas, individuals and all professionals alike”said Mr. Castex.

“In particular, truckers, taxis and medical transporters, farmers, public works actors and fishermen, but also all professions who use their vehicles a lot, such as home helpers, will be able to benefit from the measure. »

Accompanied by the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, Jean Castex once again called on oil companies to “a complementary gesture” and let it be known that TotalEnergies had “gave its agreement in principle to go beyond the State’s effort”.

“At 1is April, our rebate of 10 centimes per liter will be applied in all TotalEnergies service stations in France”and not only in rural areas as announced in February, declared in the process the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, on Twitter. This rebate will be added to that of the government.

Help for energy-intensive businesses

New aid will be granted to companies whose gas and electricity expenditure represents “at least 3% of their turnover”, who face an increase “of at least 40% of [leurs] electricity or gas bills since the start of the war” and who realize “operating losses”, detailed Jean Castex and Bruno Le Maire.

This aid, which will concern industry in particular, will be distributed without conditions of size or sector and “will allow them to cover half of their excess energy expenditure”said the Prime Minister.

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The cost to the State of this subsidy is estimated at three billion euros, said Bruno Le Maire shortly after. A company can receive a maximum of 25 million euros. According to him, the sectors most concerned are the metallurgical industry, the chemical industry, the paper and cardboard industry, certain agricultural and food industries.

Extension of the systems put in place since the start of the pandemic

Three systems already in place since the start of the Covid-19 crisis will be strengthened. The borrowing ceiling for the loan guaranteed by the State is raised to 35% of turnover, instead of 25% today.

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The deferrals of tax and social charges will be “facilities for companies affected by rising energy prices or export restrictions”.

Finally, the use of long-term partial activity is “extended for an additional twelve months for agreements already signed”detailed Jean Castex, adding that companies not covered by this system could “sign agreements until the end of 2022”.

Targeted measures for fishermen, farmers, construction companies, etc.

The Prime Minister also announced a series of targeted measures for fishermen, farmers, transport companies, construction companies and exporting companies. Addressing the latter, Jean Castex urged not to “not give in to the temptation to withdraw”.

For fishermen, whose activity is essential to “our food sovereignty”underlined the Prime Minister, the government will bring a “exceptional financial aid equivalent to 35 cents per liter of fishing diesel”until July 31. “The device will be open as soon as [jeudi] morning, so that all declared boats can get back to sea as soon as possible with the assurance of benefiting from the support system”said Jean Castex.

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For farmers, and breeders in particular, very affected by the rise in animal feed prices. An envelope of 400 million euros is planned for a “four-month transitional aid” who “will make up for the losses”. The first payments are expected within two months. Farmers will also benefit from an advance refund of the fuel tax (TICPE) on their purchases of non-road diesel (GNR) which supplies their tractors.

A long-term plan to get out of dependence on Russian raw materials

The “resilience plan” must “protect us over time”, affirmed Jean Castex. Reaffirming the need for“amplify actions to reduce our energy dependence over time”the Prime Minister reiterated the ambition to do without Russian gas and oil in 2027 and insisted on the imperative of securing France’s gas supply for next winter.

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To this end, the government will subsidize companies to help them depend less on certain critical raw materials from Russia such as titanium, palladium or even neon, announced Bruno Le Maire. ” We will […] launch a call for projects to subsidize, until the end of the year, up to 15% for large groups and 35% for small businesses, projects that would reduce dependence on products from Russia”he said during the presentation of the French resilience plan.

Lower heating in public buildings and help with boiler changes

The Minister for Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, for her part, announced “ an accelerated exit plan from hydrocarbons for State buildings”. Town halls, schools and other French public administrations and services will thus be encouraged to “to go down one degree” the temperature of their interior heating, “in order to save energy and reduce the bill”.

“This action will be accompanied by the establishment of a fund which will finance work with a rapid impact on the reduction of gas and fuel consumption, in particular the replacement of fossil boilers with renewable solutions”, she added.

Aid to individuals to replace individual fuel or gas heaters will thus be raised by 1,000 euros from April 15, and the packages for the installation of gas boilers will be stopped.

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