# France Unveils $512 Million Fuel Aid Package for Workers, Businesses

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/24617
Published: 2026-09-27T15:16:01.000Z
Updated: 2026-09-27T15:16:01.000Z
Section: Regulation

> The plan includes a €100 commuter payment, higher tax-free fuel benefits and an energy-voucher distribution moved to January 2027.

France announced a $512 million fuel-support package Sept. 22 to help workers, households and industries manage sustained energy-cost increases linked to the conflict in Iran and disrupted regional supply routes.

The plan provides a €100 payment per eligible long-distance commuter covering Oct. through Dec. 2026. The “Grands rouleurs” program will expand to 5.5 million people from 3 million, with eligibility for workers who drive at least 15 kilometers per trip or 8,000 kilometers annually for work, subject to income limits.

The payment is €100 per person, equivalent to 40 euro cents per liter, up from €50 and 20 euro cents per liter, respectively. Income thresholds include €2,050 per month for a single person, €4,070 net for a couple and €6,100 for a couple with two children.

The tax-free ceiling for employer-funded fuel benefits will temporarily increase to €1,000 per year from €600. Sectoral aid for fishermen, farmers and the construction industry will continue through Dec. 31, 2026.

France will distribute its existing energy voucher in January 2027 instead of April 2027. The voucher ranges from €48 to €277, averages €150 and helps 5.8 million households pay for electricity, gas, fuel oil and other energy costs.

The government tied higher fuel prices to the Iran conflict, a blockage in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to production and refining capacity across the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine. The pressure adds to rising European diesel costs as supply disruptions affect fuel markets.

French baker Kevin Luce said higher heating-oil costs were reducing income available for wages and investment.

“It’s salary we can’t take, it’s salary increases we can’t give to our employees. It’s investments we can’t make,” Luce said.

Food-truck operator Martial Realland described higher diesel costs as “catastrophic.”

The government also proposed a “golden rule” directing any future surplus fuel-tax revenue toward energy-crisis assistance instead of retaining it for the state or regions.