<article><p>The share of diesel in France that is used for motor fuel is unlikely to be lower than 82pc by 2030, Total head of new technologies Vincent Dabas said at the Argus Biofuels and Feedstocks conference today.</p><p>Diesel consumption in France currently accounts for around 85pc of total motor fuel consumption. The French government announced on 14 October it will raise taxes on diesel, and reduce that of gasoline, after concerns over air pollution from diesel.</p><p>Dabas further said Total would welcome a more balanced market between gasoline and diesel, as this would better fit its production capacity. </p><p>The development of the electric car industry will also slow the increase in the gasoline market share, as hybrid cars are more likely to combine gasoline and electricity, he added. In the context of slow economic growth, Total said it does not expect business vehicle fleets to switch to gasoline, which will further slow down the rise in gasoline market shares, Dabas further said.</p><p>The newly adopted French Energy Transition bill set a 30pc reduction target in fossil fuel consumption by 2030. Dabas said Total expected a marginally lower pace of reduction in fossil fuel consumption, but he added that the target of 30pc should be achieved shortly after 2030. </p><p>The new legislation also sets a target of having 15pc renewable energy in transport by 2030, which Total expects to be met, Dabas said. This is because biofuels production capacity will remain, while fossil fuel consumption will decrease, which will lead to a greater share of biofuels blended in fossil fuels, Dabas said. </p><p>Total also expects the 7pc cap on biofuels made of food-crop feedstocks to change if the French 15pc renewable energy target by 2030 is to be met. This was set in an EU Directive amending the Fuel Quality Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive, published in September.</p><p><br> Send comments to <a href="mailto:feedback@argusmedia.com" target="_parent"> feedback@argusmedia.com </a></p><p><u><a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/Info/General/News" target="_TOP"> Request more information </a></u> about Argus' energy and commodity news, data and analysis services. </p><p><i> Copyright © 2015 Argus Media Ltd - <a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/" target="_TOP"> www.argusmedia.com </a> - All rights reserved. </i></p></article>
