Fuel shortage risk in south-west

STRIKES BY PORT WORKERS NEAR MARSEILLE, STOPPING OIL TANKERS FROM UNLOADING, ARE THREATENING PETROL SUPPLIES IN SOUTH THERE is a risk of an oil shortage in the south-west because of on-going

strikes at the Fos-sur-Mer and Lavera oil terminals near Marseille. The facilities have now been blocked for 10 days by striking workers. Forty-four ships have been waiting offshore unable

to unload cargoes. The CGT union is behind the strike, which is a reaction to port reforms including plans to hive off the running of the oil terminals to a new public-private partnership

subsidiary instead of it being run by the port authority. The blockage has already caused serious petrol shortages in Corsica, where most of the service stations have been requisitioned to

supply only public services. A ship has been chartered by oil companies in Sardinia and is being loaded with petrol to take to Corsica. In the south-east of France, the government organised

special supplies for petrol stations at the weekend to stave off shortages. The situation would be exacerbated if oil refineries, which turn crude oil into fuels, decide to take part in

solidarity with the port workers. Union officials have said this is under consideration. In any case, there could be petrol shortages across the south-east within the next fortnight if

deliveries to the terminals do not restart. A CGT delegate at a refinery at Berre-l’Etang, near Marseille, said that, under usual circumstances, they kept about three weeks' worth of

stocks. Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau has said the port reform plans have been passed by parliament and are not up for discussion. He said in parliament yesterday: "What is

going on at Marseille is to the benefit of the Italian, Spanish and Moroccan ports; the loss of traffic to Marseille is a serious thing for the whole economy of our country and that of

Marseille in particular. "If they want to kill the port, they are going the right way about it."