The strike movement in refineries to protest against the government’s plan to reform pensions continued Monday for a sixth consecutive day, without creating any supply problems at service stations so far.
“As we speak today there are five refineries which are affected by the strike movements”, indicated Monday the Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher on RMC. At TotalEnergies, 41% of operators posted on Monday morning continued their strike action against the pension reform project, said a spokesperson for the group.
The Esso refinery (Exxon Mobil group) in Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône) was blocked, said a representative of the CGT. That of Port-Jérome-Gravenchon (Seine-Maritime) was not affected by a strike movement but it could resume on Wednesday, added the union representative.
“No particular break”
The Haulchin oil depot (North), near Valenciennes, was also blocked early Monday morning by a barrage of burning tires before a police intervention which has since freed up access, noted a Reuters photographer.
For the time being, the strike movement in the oil sector has not had an impact on supplies at service stations.
“I am in close contact with the profession which confirms to me that our service stations are well supplied with fuel and that for the moment there is no particular rupture”, indicated Monday Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
The strike to protest against the pension reform also affects the liquefied natural gas terminals. “All gas terminals and storages are in the hands of the strikers. The terminals are closed,” a union official told Reuters, adding that the movement is expected to continue beyond the scheduled March 14 date.
