France risks fuel shortage as strikes continue

08:19, October 15, 2010      
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France is facing fuel shortages as workers at refineries stand firm on staging open-ended strikes to protest against the rise of the retirement age.
Eight of France's 12 refineries stopped production in a process set to hit 70 percent of total French refining capacity. Fuel supply was disrupted in 50 of the 12,500 service stations across the country.
Damien Galera, a delegate with the CFDT union at the Total refinery in Feyz, south west France, told BFM TV: "Refining activity was halted. It's the fault of the government, which is the only one responsible for all that. Our objective is not to reach a shortage but to make our voices heard and force the government to listen to them and respect our rights."
Charles Foulard, head of the CGT union's branch at the French oil giant Total confirmed workers had voted for an open-ended strike. "We are hardening our stance," he said.
Refinery workers joined the nationwide demonstration headed by trade unions last Tuesday in a fresh attempt to make the government retreat from its controversial pension reforms.
However, officials turned deaf ears to the call, insisting they would push ahead with reform they consider crucial to funding pensions in the future.
France's upper house of parliament has already voted to prolong the retirement age from 60 to 62 years. On Monday, it approved an increase to the full-pension age regardless of contribution period to 67 instead of present 65.
"If strikes continue, we'll have supply problems from Oct. 20, particularly in the southeast region," Louis Schilansky, head of French Union of Petroleum Industries told private TV channel TF1.
Dominique Busserau, Transport Secretary of State downplayed the risks of a fuel shortage and asked people to be reasonable.
"There will be no shortage of gasoline at the pump. We have what we need for at least a month," Busserau told LCI TV channel, adding: "I say to motorists, do not build gasoline stocks, you will not need that."
Source: Xinhua
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