French Strike Hits Fuel Supplies

Petrol stations across France are running out of fuel as refinery and
port workers continue a strike against the government's plan to raise
the retirement age.

Around 1,500 petrol stations attached to French shopping centres had dried up by Monday morning, the AFP news agency reported.

It said the petrol stations supply the majority of the country's motorists.

"Twenty to 25 per cent of our distribution capacity is either stopped
or in trouble," Alexandre de Benoist, a senior official with Union of
Independent Petroleum Importers, which represents the sector, said.

He said the situation was "very worrying" in some regions with fuel
distribution stations on strike or blockaded by workers from other
sites.

"There are at least 1,500 stations that have run out of at least one fuel product or are totally dry," he said.

France has around 12,500 petrol stations, with 4,500 of those attached to supermarkets or shopping centres.

More protests planned

France's UFIP oil industry lobby has said France could see serious
fuel-supply problems by mid-week, meaning the government may have to
look at tapping emergency reserves.

Nationwide strikes over the pension changes have spread to the
country's 12 oil refineries over the past seven days, adding to the
impact of a three-week-long strike at France's largest oil port,
Fos-Lavera, over working conditions and a port overhaul.

However, government ministers have sought to assuage fears, saying that the country has plenty of fuel.

"The government is in control," Christian Estrosi, the industry minister, told RTL radio on Monday.

"There will be no blockade for companies, no blockade for transport and no blockade for road users."

Majority support

Unions are stepping up action in the run-up to a senate vote on the
pension bill due to take place on Wednesday, with major demonstrations
expected to take place on Tuesday.

A majority of the French support the protests against planned
legislation to raise the minimum and full retirement ages by two years
to 62 and 67 respectively, a measure the government says is the only way
to rein in a growing pension deficit.

Lorry drivers joined in the strike on Sunday, blocking roads and
staging go-slow operations on highways, while rail unions announced new
strikes from Monday.

High-school students are also continuing protests.

The main points of the pension bill have passed through both houses
of parliament and following the next senate votel could soon be signed
into law.