Nina Droff (in Paris), edited by Laura Laplaud 09:23, October 07, 2022

For the past ten days, it has been increasingly difficult to find fuel.

15% of French service stations are dry due to a strike by refiners which prevents the supply of pumps.

Europe 1 went to Porte d'Aubervilliers where the queue was already very long at 5 a.m.

The cross and the banner.

Finding fuel has become a test of patience.

For good reason, 15% of service stations are dry in France.

In question, the strike of the refiners demanding a rise in wages which prevents the supply of the pumps for ten days.

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The queue is getting longer

In a TotalEnergies station at the Porte d'Aubervilliers, on the Parisian ring road, many motorists have been queuing to hope for a few liters of gasoline since 4 am.

The queue is always full, on the contrary, it lengthens until it overflows into the peripheral lane.

It must be said that here, there are only a few pumps that are still open.

Amine had been trying to fill up for three days and after long minutes of waiting, he finally succeeded.

"[I waited] let's say 45 minutes. I came early this morning, I got up, I said to myself 'I'm going to try'", he says at the microphone of Europe 1.

“I have done three stations since 4 am”

But some do not have this patience and prefer to risk fuels even unsuitable for their vehicle, like Youcef who absolutely has to fill the tank of his professional truck.

"It's a hassle. [I've done] three stations since 4 a.m. [to find] diesel. I have to put some in order not to break down," he says.

Youcef even says he is ready to fill his gas tank if he finds any, but for the moment, it is not won.

"It's getting very hard," he continues.

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 "It's really a mess!"

: those motorists queuing to buy fuel

Filling up and filling cans to hold...

On the spot, many people fill jerry cans, cans to last the rest of the week or to give them to other people.

"To troubleshoot a truck", to help a colleague "who is not so lucky to have a station next door", they testify at the microphone of Europe 1.

When we talk to them about the strike or the reasons for the shortage, many admit that they don't want to be interested in it.

They are mostly focused on their goal, getting fuel.