France has been suffering for more than two weeks a stoppage of activity that affects 60% of the production of the refineries. This has started to cause supply problems in a third of service stations.
The employees of three French refineries belonging to the oil groups TOTAL and Esso They called the strike almost two weeks ago and this has caused the fuel supply to become a problem.
The strike has come after the claim of the workers of a increase in wages to deal with inflationas well as hiring to deal with the workload with greater guarantees.
60% of refinery production is completely stopped
The unions demand a 10% salary increase from Total Energies, a percentage much higher than the annual inflation rate of 5.6%. However, the workers emphasize the increase in the company’s profits, which during the second quarter reached €5.7 billiondoubling.
In addition, the employees allege that the official aid of 30 cents per liter, as well as the offers from the distributors, have increased demand by 30% at the firm’s gas stations.
supply problems
This has caused that, according to data from the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, 29% of gas stations have begun to have supply problems, a figure that will increase if a short-term solution is not found.
Therefore, the shortage of fuel not directly related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine nor with the energy crisis, but with the consequences derived from a worrying international situation that is deeply affecting citizens.
According to reports Five Days, the greatest supply problems are occurring in the north of France, the area where the strikes began. Also, in Paris 10% of gas stations are already noticing the shortage of supply.
France refines about 1.6 million barrels of petroleum products daily. According to The Economist reportsright now 60% of refinery production is completely stoppedwhich is putting at stake the supply of diesel and gasoline in France, but also in the rest of Europe.
OPEC does not help
Added to this situation is the cut in oil production applied by OPEC and Russia. Specifically 2 million barrels less per day. Meanwhile, the Brent barrel continues to rise in price and is already over 100 dollars.
“We have released strategic reserves. We launch a call for calm and responsibility. The situation should improve”the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, told the FranceInfo public broadcaster.
In order to reduce the pressure on the fuel supply, operators have resorted to emergency importswhile the administrations have exceptionally authorized tanker trucks to circulate on Sundays to help supply service stations.
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