Fuels: nearly 9.000 companies have already applied for Bpifrance's "flash loan".

Faced with rising fuel prices caused by tensions in the Middle East, nearly 9.000 businesses have already applied for the "flash fuel loan" set up by the government. This information was confirmed by the CEO of Bpifrance, Nicolas Dufourcq, who emphasized the scale of the demand since the program's launch at the beginning of April.

According to Bpifrance, approximately €15 million has already been disbursed to beneficiary companies, while applications representing nearly €60 million more are currently being processed. The applications come primarily from sectors heavily reliant on fuel, including road haulage, taxis, construction companies, farmers, and fishing professionals.

Unsecured financing for small businesses

The scheme allows eligible micro-enterprises (TPEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to borrow between €5.000 and €50.000 at a rate of 3,8%, without collateral. Loans are granted for a term of three years and include a twelve-month grace period on principal repayment to ease the cash flow of businesses facing rising operating costs.

To prevent windfall gains, several conditions have been established. Companies must, in particular, demonstrate that their fuel expenses represent at least 5% of their revenue, have been in operation for more than a year, and agree to provide Bpifrance with their recent bank statements. This mechanism is part of the overall emergency measures deployed by the government to mitigate the economic impact of soaring energy prices.