French government releases strategic fuel stocks amid shortage

(EurActiv, 10 Oct 2022) France unveiled its energy saving plan on Thursday which aims to reduce energy consumption by 10% by 2024.

For ten days, the refineries and fuel depots have been undergoing a social movement launched by the CGT union, which demands wage increases.

On Sunday afternoon, nearly a third of France’s service stations were affected by supply problems, according to a report by the energy transition ministry, obtained by broadcaster franceinfo.

“Faced with the situation we have taken measures to open the depots closed at the weekend, authorise the movement of trucks, free up our strategic stocks and increase our imports,” Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher announced on Twitter on Sunday evening.

Throughout the weekend, the supply problems generated a rush of motorists in some service stations. Demand was up to 30-35% higher than usual on Sunday; the minister told BFM TV.

Pannier-Runacher also urged the French not to rush to petrol stations, warning that “these measures will allow the situation to improve over the course of the week.”

External link

EurActiv, 10 Oct 2022: French government releases strategic fuel stocks amid shortage