Fuel: the government reimburses interest on loans to small gas stations to accelerate price reductions starting in November

The French government announced it will reimburse independent gas stations for interest on loans up to €5,000 to help reduce fuel prices starting November 1. This follows a commitment to lower diesel prices by up to 18 cents per liter for three months, achieved by releasing ten million barrels of discounted diesel. Independent stations, often less frequently supplied, expressed concerns about implementing price reductions in time. The government aims to facilitate this by offering zero-interest loans, with reimbursement for interest provided by the Agency for Services and Payment. The measure affects 350 to 500 rural stations and includes overseas territories.