*CEO says Paris Agreement climate goals out of reach
*Oil demand expected at 98 million barrels per day in 2050
*Demand forecast has risen versus last year’s report
*CEO cites concern over energy security, prices
By America Hernandez
PARIS, Nov 4 – French oil major TotalEnergies sees global oil demand rising through 2040 before gradually dropping off, as political fragmentation and energy security concerns dampen the drive to reduce emissions and limit global warming, it said in its annual energy outlook report on Tuesday. The analysis represents an increase compared to last year, reflecting changes including U.S. President Donald Trump’s partial rollback of green subsidies and resumption of liquefied natural gas plant licences, as well as lagging electric vehicle sales and ongoing coal plant installations in Asia.
The annual report presented three scenarios: current trends, a moderately ambitious “momentum” scenario, and a “rupture” scenario aligned to the Paris Agreement.
“We can present this rupture scenario, but given the level of political fragmentation, the probability of its success is diminishing, even out of reach, because the international coordination required is not what we see today,” said TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne at a press briefing.
(Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris, Editing by Louise Heavens)