Between hope and resignation… It is likely that this weekend will continue to be very difficult for motorists in search of gasoline. If the situation seems to be improving a little on the supply side of service stations, the CGT’s rejection of TotalEnergies’ proposals does not leave much optimism… As well as logistical limitations. explanations.
A little less difficulty in the stations but…
This Thursday at 5:00 p.m., nationwide, at least one fuel is missing in 29.1% of the stations, compared to 30.8% on Wednesday at the same time, according to the Ministry of Energy Transition. A figure that again hides strong disparities.
The Hauts-de-France region, particularly affected at the beginning of the strike movement, is experiencing a real improvement with 31.7% of stations in difficulty compared to almost 43% on Wednesday.
In Île-de-France, on the other hand, if we look at progress, the situation remains very difficult, with 38.8% of stations experiencing at least one shortage compared to 41.9% the day before. As in Centre-Val-de-Loire, where 4 out of 10 resorts are also affected.
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne says she sees “signs of improvement.” “I am following the situation with the greatest attention and I see signs of improvement in certain places where the shipment of fuel to the service stations has resumed.”
More operational repositories
This slight improvement is a consequence of the release of some fuel depots through the requisition of personnel.
These requisitions took place at TotalEnergies’ Flanders (Dunkirk) depot (which supplies northern France in particular) and at Esso-ExxonMobil’s Port-Jérôme depot.
Thus, 7,000 cubic meters of fuel left Port-Jérôme de Esso in 24 hours (that is, 110,000 cars refueled) and 900 cubic meters from the TotalEnergies depot in Flanders in 7 hours yesterday.
At the same time, the Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune, issued two decrees to allow the circulation of tankers this weekend. In particular, the text authorizes exceeding the maximum daily driving time.
And if the CGT rejects the agreement signed at Totalenergies and has renewed the strike at the group’s refineries, it promises deliveries this weekend from Donges.
How to further improve the offer of the stations? “Not really,” explains Francis Pousse, Mobilians national president of fuel and new energy distributors.
On the other hand, the manager points out that these deliveries will allow the warehouses to be replenished for the coming days/weeks.
But TotalEnergies refineries are still on strike
These slight improvements could be hampered by the continued lockdown of TotalEnergies’ refineries.
In fact, the CGT announced on Friday morning the resumption of the strike at all TotalEnergies sites affected by the social movement, that is, at the five sites of the group already blocked.
However, the management and two major unions, including the CFDT, have reached a compromise on a salary increase. after negotiations the night before but the CGT, at the origin of the strike that caused the shortage of gasoline in France, refused any agreement and left the negotiating table at night.
And threats to deposits
Another source of concern on the reservoir side. The CGT employees of the TotalEnergies warehouse in Flanders also intend to protest against the requisition of personnel and “harden the tone”, says one of them on BFMTV. Difficulties are likely to increase unless requisitions are decided again.
On the other hand, on the side of the Esso warehouse in Port-Jérôme, the strike is lifted after a new vote of the employees this Friday. If it happens,
However, the requests were validated in court this Friday, in any case that of Port-Jérôme. Indeed, the administrative court of Rouen has rejected this Friday the summary appeal of the CGT.
In its ruling, which AFP was able to consult, the administrative court considers in particular that “the use of individual requisition measures of authorized agents is necessary to prevent the risk of harm to public order in terms of the duration of the supply cuts caused for the strike.”
Therefore, everything will depend on the reaction of the unions and the employees of these warehouses today. The lockout of requisitioned employees could therefore make tanker supply impossible and maintain major shortages this weekend again. “The warehouses must be supplied for next week”, agrees Francis Pousse.
Back to normal next week?
Emmanuel Macron promised a return to normality next week but for the Mobilians leader “it is perfectly unthinkable”.
“For example, tankers will only be able to get supplies from one refinery during their rounds instead of the usual 3,” he continues.
Source: BFM TV
