Paris (AFP)
The supply of service stations is "almost normal" in France and the country's seven refineries continue "all" their production, assured Friday the Ministry of the Ecological Transition, even if tensions persisted in the PACA region and in Île- of France.
"More than 98% of the 11,000 service stations (in the country) do not experience any difficulty and are normally supplied," the ministry insisted in a statement, stressing that "professionals consider the situation to be almost normal".
The oil group Total delivered a similar observation: the number of service stations out of supply was down Friday mid-day within its network, with a return to "normal levels" for a weekend watch , a spokesperson for the company told AFP.
In detail, Total counted 54 service stations experiencing supply difficulties at midday on a national network of some 3,500 stations (compared to 79 on Thursday).
We are "in the catch-up cycle" and "we are returning to normal levels" before a weekend of crossover vacations, said the spokesman. Friday is usually the time when the stations are busiest in anticipation of weekend trips and given the absence of deliveries on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
However, tensions were noted locally in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and Ile-de-France regions: Total reported supply difficulties in just under 10% of its stations in PACA (out of around 200 ) and 4% in IDF (out of 330 stations).
In the Paris region, on two service stations (BP and Total) in the south of Hauts-de-Seine Friday, one was completely out of stock and the other was approaching dangerously, also found a journalist of AFP.
Another point closely monitored: out of the seven refineries in mainland France, "five continue to ensure their shipments normally to the 200 oil depots" in the country, and two "are experiencing certain shipping difficulties", but "this situation has been stable since several days, "observes the ministry.
At the Grandpuits refinery (Seine-et-Marne) in particular, shipments have been blocked since December 5, and production is no longer ensured except at a reduced rate.
As for oil depots, "only 2 out of about 200 depots are experiencing temporary difficulties, all the others ensuring their shipments normally", insists the ministry. Total itself announced on Thursday the replenishment of the major oil depots at Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine) and Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône).
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner assured Thursday that there was "no risk of shortage" of fuel in France. And the government warned Friday against the "full of precaution" carried out by certain drivers, judging that they "are of no use" and "on the other hand can contribute to create points of tension met on certain service stations ".
© 2019 AFP