DOHA, May 15 Reuters TotalEnergies will continue to be listed in France, Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said on Wednesday, as the company considers a listing in the United States.

On April 26, Pouyanne had told analysts TotalEnergies was seriously looking at a possible primary listing in New York to ensure easier access for U.S. investors, adding he would report back to the board by September.

On Wednesday, speaking at a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, he said, We never said we will leave France.

I repeat, we39;ll stay in France, we39;ll be listed in France. The question is can we better offer some shares to our U.S. shareholders?

Pouyanne added, We have more and more U.S. shareholders, and we have less European shareholders, including French shareholders probably because of all the debate about ESG, etc. That39;s the reality. And then you see quite a different valuation between the U.S. markets and the European market.

It was therefore the fiduciary duty of the TotalEnegies board to study a U.S. listing, he added.

And then, when we have studied, we will come back. And again, it39;s not a matter of politics, it39;s a matter of business. And I39;m happy to see that all the French politicians are want to keep TotalEnergies.

In a May 2 radio interview, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said it was important for the French oil major to stay listed in France.

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