Trending 
TotalEnergies reported a significant financial surge on Wednesday, with first-quarter net profits rising 51% to reach $5.8 billion.
The company attributed this growth to soaring global oil prices fuelled by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a 4% increase in total production.
The energy giant successfully offset regional losses, while its liquefied natural gas maritime shipments grew by 12% by expanding operations in regions like Brazil and Libya.
The massive profit margins have sparked sharp criticism from environmental and consumer advocacy groups.
Organisations such as Greenpeace and Reclaim Finance condemned the results as “war profits,” arguing that the company is benefiting from geopolitical instability while ordinary households struggle with high fuel costs.
The debate has also reached the political stage, with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu suggesting a potential tax on windfall profits and urging the company to redistribute its earnings to the public.
In response to the criticism, TotalEnergies maintained that it already supports consumers by capping price increases at the pump.
Beyond its financial reporting, the company noted that it has begun restarting its refinery operations in Saudi Arabia following disruptions caused by recent air strikes.
Despite the political pressure, the group rewarded shareholders by increasing its dividend, and its stock remained resilient amid a broader decline in the Paris market.
