Nearly one in five gas stations has run out of fuel, according to Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Energy Transition Minister, stressing that the rest, more than 80%, are “functioning normally”.
“We have released strategic reserves. We call for calm and responsibility,” the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, told the public broadcaster FranceInfo.
Operators also resorted to emergency imports and authorities exceptionally allowed tankers to drive on Sundays – the day they are normally not allowed to work – to supply filling stations.
“The situation should improve,” said Christophe Béchu, quoted by the Efe news agency.
The shortfall is due to the strike that affects three refineries of the oil groups Total and Esso, whose workers are demanding salary increases to offset the rising cost of living and more staff.
The strike at the Esso de Fos refinery (near Marseille) started 17 days ago, while Total’s two facilities were paralyzed last Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron had already called for the “calm” of the French on Friday.
“Given the shortage, there were panic movements and many of our compatriots rushed to the gas stations as a precaution to fill the tank. However, this attitude accelerates the effect of panic,” Macron warned.
In some areas, including the Paris region, television images show long queues and drivers frustrated with the wait, which sometimes lasts several hours, because when it’s their turn to run out of fuel.
The situation is particularly serious in the Hautes-de-France (north) region, where almost half of the service stations suffer from some kind of problem.
The sale of fuel in barrels and containers was banned in several departments, with priority being given to vehicles such as ambulances, firefighters, police and school buses.
Source: DN
