The CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanné said on Wednesday that
he was "shocked that we are using state resources"
to investigate
"a private company"
, while a senatorial commission is currently studying the group's activities in light of of France's climate policy.
“I will have the opportunity to speak in front of her.
Basically, I am somewhat shocked that we are interested in a private company whose strategy is set by the board of directors
,” he responded to journalists, by videoconference from London from where he presented the 2023 annual results of its group.
“The State is not a shareholder of TotalEnergies. TotalEnergies has its headquarters in France, TotalEnergies obeys the laws and regulations of all the countries in which it is located
,” he added.
“I am not looking for controversy in this matter.
We respect democratic institutions.
But once again, basically, I am shocked that we are using the means of the State to question, to carry out an investigation into the strategy of a private company, which, as yet, I have not completely understood the objective
,” he said.
Established at the initiative of the environmentalist group in the Senate, this commission, chaired by LR Roger Karoutchi with the former environmentalist presidential candidate Yannick Jadot as rapporteur, began its work on January 25 with first hearings.
It concerns
“the means mobilized and mobilized by the State to ensure that the TotalEnergies group takes into account and complies with climate obligations and the orientations of France's foreign policy”
.