France: Total Oil Refinery Strike Not Affecting Fuel Supplies

A two-day refinery strike at five of Total's six French refineries is not affecting fuel supplies to the service station network, according to  CGT union official.

The strike took place last week over the possible  closure of Total's Dunkirk refinery in the North of the country. "Total is supplying its oil products from storage sites which means that for the time being there is no supply problems," the union spokesman said.  Workers were on strike at the Donges, Grandpuits, Gonfreville, La Mede and Dunkirk refineries but the Feyzin refinery (near Lyon) has not joined the action.

A spokesperson at Total said the strike, which was taking place at five of the group's six French refineries, has had no significant impact on refining activities, including output.   Total is considering permanently shutting the 137,000 barrels-per-day refinery, which employs about 400 workers, after failing to find a buyer.  Total said it had called an extraordinary meeting with the central workers body on Feb. 1 to discuss the future of the Dunkirk refinery.

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France has 13 refineries with six of them owned by Total.