- Refineries: shipments still blocked

Fuel shipments are still blocked at the exit of TotalEnergies and Esso-ExxonMobil refineries in France, often with the aim of holding out until at least Friday.

The gigantic fuel depot of TotalEnergies near Dunkirk, in Mardyck, should even remain completely blocked until March 15, said for example to AFP Clément Mortier (FO).

The refineries continue to produce fuel but it must, until further notice, be stored on site, for lack of being able to leave.

When the on-site reserves are full, the refineries will have to stop, but this would require several days or even weeks of blockages.

In the meantime, the 10,000 stations in France rely on 200 fuel depots.

One was blocked for several hours in Ambès, on the Gironde estuary. The lack of fuel is beginning to be felt in the stations, put by the tankers on the account of a rush of motorists: 5.78% stations lacked at least one type of fuel (diesel or gasoline) on Wednesday morning, according to public data analyzed by AFP.

- Gas: blockages but gas pipelines open

The supply of the French gas network (the gas pipelines managed by GRTgaz) to customers is maintained, but the volumes sent from the Storengy underground storage sites are now reduced "between 30 and 40%", Frédéric announced to AFP. Ben, gas manager at CGT Energie, who had issued an ultimatum to this subsidiary of Engie managing most of the French reserves, in natural cavities.

The company confirms to AFP, but ensures that customers are not affected for the moment.

No more liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been unloaded from ships since Tuesday, the country's four port LNG terminals being blocked by strikers.

Gas continues to arrive by pipeline from Norway or Spain.

- Electricity: power plants slowed down and cuts

The manager of the high and very high voltage lines, RTE, is monitoring closely to avoid cuts, and has ordered a stop in the declines in the morning to "pass the peak of morning consumption", he told the newspaper. AFP.

Wild power cuts are also increasing in the country, on the initiative of Enedis agents: an Amazon depot near Pau;

in Brignoles, in the Var (sub-prefecture);

and renewable energy producers in Corrèze and Allier, according to Enedis.

The city of Annonay, stronghold of Minister Olivier Dussopt as well as the permanence of the President of the Senate Gérard Larcher in Rambouillet also suffered cuts on Tuesday, provoking the fury of the government and (systematic) complaints from Enedis.

- Transport: improvements to the SNCF

One in three trains runs on Wednesday at SNCF, better than Tuesday's 20%.

The strike will continue on Thursday and at least Friday but traffic will improve, Transport Minister Clément Beaune told LCI on Wednesday.

Striking railway workers vote for the continuation of the movement against pension reform, March 8, 2023, in Strasbourg © FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

No train runs in Corsica.

In Paris, in public transport managed by the RATP, traffic improved on Wednesday in the RER, it is almost normal for buses and trams, and the metro is running better than on Tuesday, but still very badly: between a quarter and half of the usual service is provided.

In the air, between 20 and 30% of flights will have to be canceled Thursday and Friday, like Tuesday and Wednesday, asked the general direction of civil aviation (DGAC).

- Ports

The strike is closely followed by the dockers.

The ports of Le Havre, first in France for containers, Rouen, the first grain port in Western Europe, Brest, Bayonne and La Rochelle are blocked.

The blocking of that of Marseille-Fos, which extends over an area equivalent to Paris, was lifted during the day, according to a union source.

- Garbage men

© 2023 AFP