Oil refineries strike won't threaten petrol supplies, says government

A strike at six Total oil refineries continued in France on Friday, in reaction to the planned winding-down of the plants.The French government assured people that it would not lead to any shortages, although the Total refineries supply about half of France's petrol stations.

Reuters

On the eve of French school holidays Finance Minister Christine Lagarde assured people that “there was no risk of shortages”. But the manager of one of the Feyzin refinery, Jean-Pierre Poncin, said that there would be tension in the southern Rhone-Alpes region, if the strike continued.

 
Workers called for an unlimited strike on Thursday at the Feyzin, Gonfreville-L’Orcher, Donges, Grandpuits, La Mede and Dunkirk refineries.

Christian Estrosi, the Minister of Industry, asked Christophe de Margerie, the Chief Executive of Total, to “quickly reassure the employees”, who are worried about job cuts and the possible closure of the refinery in Dunkirk.

The country has between 10 and 20 days of oil available, according to the French Petroleum Industry.

Meanwhile, the strike threatened to spread to other refineries, owned by ExxonMobil. The CGT trade union called for workers to “fight for the future of the refining sector.