Reserves opened to stop fuel panic
RESERVE fuel supplies have been opened up after strikes closed down all French oil refineries and fears of petrol shortages have sparked panic buying. Demand for fuel has risen 50 per cent in the past two days.
The strikes, against the planned changes to the retirement age, have been made worse by an 18-day dockers’ strike at the giant oil terminal at Fos-Lavéra (Bouches-du-Rhône).
At the moment there are more than 70 ships standing off Marseille loaded with crude oil destined for French refineries but all of the country’s 12 refineries have been hit by strikes.
Some petrol stations have put up notices warning of shortages but, so far, only about 50 have faced actual shortages. There have been reports of stations limiting purchases to €40 or €50.
The main areas affected by shortages are the south of France, Alsace and Brittany.
Transport secretary Dominique Bussereau ordered that reserve stocks of fuel held by oil firms be opened for use, which would give about 10 days’ supply. Police were then used to open the depot at Fos-sur-Mer in Bouches-du-Rhône.
However, so-called strategic supplies still remain off-limits. These are only intended to be used in the event of an international crisis and were last opened in 2005 after hurricane Katrina ravaged oil distilleries in the southern United States and cut off supplies.
The 17 million tonnes of refined and crude oil in the strategic supply represent 98 days’ consumption.
Fuel supplies have been ordered from elsewhere in Europe and Mr Bussereau has also lifted the ban on larger 44-tonne oil tankers being used to transport fuel. He has also lifted the restrictions on tankers running on Sundays.
Tomorrow is due to see the latest in the series of rolling protests over the retirement age which follow the strikes in the transport and energy sectors. Demonstrations are expected in major cities.
Another national strike is planned for October 19.
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