French Protests Disrupt Output at Total’s Refinery

Date: 25 December 2019 - 22:13

News ID: ۷۴۳۶۳

PARIS (Reuters) - Total’s Grandpuits refinery near Paris is producing at a reduced rate after the CGT union voted to halt output as part of nationwide protests against a pensions reforms, the French energy company said on Tuesday.
A Total spokesman said the 102,000 barrels-per-day refinery would continue to produce until Dec. 30 when the union will hold another general assembly meeting.
It can take several days to securely shut down refinery operations, while Total may be able to keep it running for a short period by using rotating teams of non-unionized workers.
The spokesman said three of Total’s other refineries in France - Normandy, Feyzin and Donges - were operating normally on Tuesday, with products leaving the refineries.
At its La Mede biorefinery, products were still being blocked from leaving due to the industrial action.
The spokesman said products supply to Total’s petrol stations were improving with just 90 stations running dry compared with 114 the previous day.
The hardline CGT trade union has vowed to ramp up protest action, particularly in the oil sector and including shutting down oil facilities, to try to force the government to withdraw the planned reforms.
French Ecology and Energy Ministry reiterated on Tuesday that six of France’s seven crude oil refineries were producing and distributing normally, and only Grandpuits was facing difficulties shipping its products.