Around 18% of fuel stations in France lack at least one type of fuel

France's government spokesperson and minister delegate for energy said on Tuesday that around 18% of fuel stations in the country are lacking at least one type of fuel, as the prices soar amid the Middle East tensions.

"I’ll give you a figure: as of this morning, around 18% of stations are missing at least one type of fuel," Maud Bregeon told broadcaster BFM TV.

She noted that 83% of these stations experiencing difficulties are part of the TotalEnergies network as the firm announced a price cap for several weeks now, "which has created a significant gap between their distribution network and other networks or independent stations."

"What I want to say this morning is that the crude oil is arriving in France. There is no problem at the refineries. There is no problem at the storage depots," Bregeon also reaffirmed.

She stressed that the government put in place all necessary measures to enable rapid resupply, highlighting that there is no risk of shortage. "The difference is between a shortage of material and logistical difficulties.”

Confirming that targeted support measures will be announced in the coming days, Bregeon dismissed the idea of a fuel price freeze at the pump or any universal aid to address the energy crisis.

Bregeon further reaffirmed that France is preparing for all scenarios, including both de-escalation and escalation in the region, "which would inevitably lead to more serious consequences for the global economy."

"I am being extremely cautious, because the end of the war does not necessarily mean an immediate return to normal energy prices," she also said.

Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, while Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.