About 16% of France's gas pumps hit by fuel shortage

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Mar 2023 21:47

Affected gas pumps say they ran low on at least one type of fuel they used to have on March 1, which is either gasoline or diesel.

Cars lining up for gasoline in Paris on Tuesday. Strikes at refineries have left many French service stations without fuel. (AP)

French sources reported on Monday that the proportion of gas pumps in France suffering from fuel shortages currently stands at 15.72%.

According to French broadcaster BFMTV, affected gas pumps say they ran low on at least one type of fuel they used to have on March 1, which is either gasoline or diesel.

The broadcaster added that 7.38% of gas stations have completely run out of fuel.

It also said that in the department of Loire-Atlantique, about 55.06% of gas pumps are experiencing gas shortages.

In other departments in the West of France, such as Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Maine-et-Loire, fuel shortages impact more than 40% of them.

France is undergoing turmoil as demonstrations and strikes erupted across the country over the government's pension reform law, which has been met with strong opposition and led to the shuttering of services, blocking of roads, and widespread protests amid heavy security deployment and repeated violent clashes.

Hundreds of thousands of French people have since January marched against the reform, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Security forces have this week faced criticism for their heavy-handed tactics in dealing with the protests. On Friday, the Council of Europe warned that sporadic violence in protests "cannot justify excessive use of force."

Earlier today, France's largest refinery plant, Gonfreville-l'Orcher, owned by TotalEnergies, suspended operations due to a workers' strike against the pension reform.