At the microphone of Europe 1, Francis Perrin, director of research at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations, estimated that the shutdown of part of Saudi production would result in a rapid surge in fuel prices at the pump.

INTERVIEW

Saturday's drone attacks on two oil sites in Saudi Arabia could have major economic ... and immediate consequences on pump prices in France. Saudi output, the world's third-largest oil producer, has been cut by more than half, driving crude prices soaring.

In the night from Sunday to Monday, oil prices jumped 10% in Asian markets. They should certainly follow the same trajectory on the European markets in the coming hours. "There will inevitably be an increase in the price of petroleum fuels, in the coming days and weeks," predicts Matthieu Belliard's microphone, in the morning of Europe 1, Francis Perrin, director of research at the Institute of Relations International and Strategic (IRIS).

Towards a crisis situation?

"More than 10% is extremely important, and it is related to the importance of what happened this weekend," said this specialist energy issues. As a result of these attacks, Saudi oil production has dropped by 58%. "How long will this reduction last?" Expected information from Saudi Aramco (the Saudi National Oil Company, ed ), and the Saudi Ministry of Energy, "continues Francis Perrin.

Anticipating soaring prices, the United States has already announced the release of their strategic reserve. "We have to talk more generally about the Paris-based International Energy Agency, which brings together 30 countries, including the United States and France, to say whether or not there are crisis situation on the oil market and whether, yes or no, the countries concerned can use their strategic stocks to avoid a shortage, "says the researcher.