The Ineos petrochemical site in Lavéra, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. - Daniel Cole / AP / SIPA

  • Employees of several Bouches-du-Rhône refineries are on strike, no fuel delivery has been made since Tuesday morning.
  • Lavera employees want to toughen up the movement by shutting down several production units.
  • Despite these strikes, there is little risk of having a fuel shortage, even if "the more days pass, the more serious difficulties arrive", according to the secretary general of UD CGT 13, Olivier Mateu.

"A total blockage", in the words of Thierry Defresne, central delegate of the CGT at Total. Since Tuesday morning, many employees of refineries and petroleum depots are on strike everywhere in France after the call of the CGT, and in particular in Bouches-du-Rhône.

“Since 5 am the strike has started, with no fuel going out by wagon, pipeline or truck. The protocol was signed with management until midnight Friday. From this moment, we do not plan any work apart from those relating to security, ”explains Lionel Arbiol, CGT general secretary at the Esso refinery in Fos-sur-Mer.

On the side of the La Mède refinery, the situation is similar. “No product has left the refinery since December 4, we remain on the same terms. There is no need to block, we close the valves from the inside, "said Fabien Cros, secretary general of the CGT at La Mède.

"There is no blockage"

The term blocking also bristles the hairs of Sébastien Varagnol, secretary general of the CGT of Ineos Petroineos de Lavéra: “When the Prime Minister talks about blocking, he says anything. Since December 5, there has been no blockage, we are only asserting our right to strike. Since we exercise our right to strike, employees do not load trucks with fuel, ”he said.

PARIS (Reuters) - The shutdown procedure for the Petroinéos de Lavéra refinery near Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône) was launched on Sunday following a CGT vote which demanded the withdrawal of the government’s project from ... https://t.co/qBt6zkbKZr

- PIERRE (@ PIERRE18732039) December 24, 2019

But Lavéra employees are determined to go further. "The striking staff decided to initiate production unit shutdown maneuvers in order to make other refineries want to join us," says Sébastien Varagnol. A first production unit was shutdown on December 23, a second was shut down on Tuesday morning and a third should take place on Wednesday, according to our information.

Little risk of shortage

Whether at the La Mède refinery or at the Esso refinery, the CGT unions do not plan to shutdown the installations for the moment. The tanker depot in Fos, the second largest in France, is also affected by strikes. “There have been no truck loads since Tuesday morning until Friday. Reflections are underway on the follow-up to be given. Either extend the movement or stop it for one, two or three days before resuming it. All options are on the table, ”warns Olivier Mateu, secretary general of the departmental union of the CGT.

As for the risks of fuel shortages? If for the moment there is no fear to have, "no more a single drop will be delivered by Friday, we can therefore expect serious difficulties the more the days pass", advance Olivier Mateu. Only less than ten service stations are currently out of stock in Marseille.

Politics

Collapsed buildings in Marseille: The Housing Assistant slams the door and charges Gaudin

News

Bouches-du-Rhône: An investigation opened after the abandonment of two lion cubs on December 31

  • Marseilles
  • Fuel
  • Economy
  • Society
  • Strike
  • Refinery