TotalEnergies chief warns six-month war could disrupt 20% of oil flows
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne warns a Middle East war beyond six months would damage global economies but three-to-four months is manageable with current oil inventories. He says Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz—conduit for about 20 percent of world oil shipments—would trigger real impacts on energy supply and prices.
1. CEO Assessment of Conflict Duration
CEO Patrick Pouyanne said TotalEnergies can cope with a three-to-four month conflict using its current oil inventories, but warned that any extension beyond six months would have damaging effects on all global economies.
2. Hormuz Strait Disruption Risks
Pouyanne highlighted that Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz would block about 20 percent of global oil shipments, creating real impacts on energy supply chains, market volatility and potential price spikes affecting TotalEnergies’ distribution and refining operations.