Total Energies CEO Patrick Pouyanné warned of the dangers of moving towards a rapid reduction in oil production, stressing that this could lead to a global energy crisis.

During the general meeting of shareholders at the group’s headquarters in La Défense, Pouyanné raised a question about the timing of the start of a decline in demand for oil, stressing that this will not happen in the near future, but on the contrary, demand is still growing with the increase in the world’s population.

Pouyanné pointed out that any rapid reduction in oil production could lead to a sharp rise in oil prices. Which may constitute a huge burden on developing and developed countries alike.

These statements contradict the trends of some non-governmental organizations and the International Energy Agency, which call for reducing dependence on fossil fuels to combat climate change.