Fuel price rises in France: how much can you stock up in jerrycans?
Drivers look to anticipate future rises… but is this legal?
Drivers are hoping to beat any future price increases by buying and storing fuel now
Grints/Shutterstock
The increase in fuel prices over the last month has led to some drivers in France stocking up on fuel in anticipation of further increases.
The cost of diesel (gazole) is now around €2.20 per litre on average with petrol around €2 per litre average, between 20 - 40 cents per litre higher than last month.
A slight dip in prices at the start of the week was quickly cancelled out, with prices reaching highs not seen since the 2022 war in Ukraine by Tuesday (March 24).
Outbreak of conflict in the Middle East is behind the increase, and uncertainty over how long the war will last means prices may rise further, with industry leaders in several sectors warning of incoming increases.
Some drivers are therefore opting to fill up not only their cars but jerrycans, drums, and other storage facilities in a bid to ease incoming increases.
Beware over storage and transportation of fuel
While this is legal, there are some rules that must be followed.
A 2004 decree outlines that fuel must be held in containers of 50 litres or less. As a reference, a standard jerrycan has a 20-litre capacity.
In addition, objects used to transport fuel must be stored in a leak-proof container that also stops evaporation or other dispersion, to avoid accidental fires or toxic leaks.
Jerrycans that are used to fill up at a service station must adhere to strict regulations and be UN-approved for carrying fuel, shown via a symbol on the can.
In theory, you can fill up jerrycans and other authorised containers equalling to 333 litres of petrol and 1,000 litres of diesel at a service station at a time, but in reality this is all but impossible for most households due to the 50 litre capacity limit on transporting the fuel.
Department prefects can pass temporary measures to limit this number – in 2022, the prefect in Pyrénées-Orientales imposed a 30-litre fuel limit per vehicle, with using jerrycans to purchase and stock up on additional fuel being completely prohibited.
In addition, households and businesses can only store 120 litres of fuel each, which must be kept in certain areas.
The fuel must be kept at least one metre away from mobile smoke pipes (Les tuyaux de fumée mobiles), open flames, appliances containing unenclosed incandescent elements, and combustible products, the decree states.
Storage should not be in basements, attics, on terraces, or in any shared space not specifically designated for storing fuel.
The fuel must be kept “in a sealed, non-combustible basin with a capacity at least equal to that of the largest container,” the decree adds.
The room used to store the fuel must have fire-resistant doors, walls, and flooring, adequate ventilation, and a fire extinguisher should be installed nearby.
All of this means in practice that the probable cost of making your property compliant will cost more than the difference in current fuel price.
Note that the decree does not list any specific fines for breaking the rules, however if a fire breaks out due to mismanagement of stocked fuel failure to follow the regulations may see people held responsible for any damages or injuries and could affect insurance claims.
