Global General

Over thousand fuel stations out of stock in France

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-18 21:49

A placard which reads "no more fuel" is seen at a petrol station in Vertou near Nantes Oct 18, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - France's biggest fuel supplier said Monday that more than 1,000 service stations were out of stock in the morning.

Related readings:  Govt and unions in France in a face-off  French public strike to protest pension reform  Pension reforms 'need to gather pace'

The Union of Independent Petroleum Importers (UIP) holds the biggest distribution net in France with a holding of 60 percent of the market.

An official told local media that some 1500 stations were out of stock or couldn't resume operation.

So far to the weekend, all 12 French refineries were reportedly shut down protesting the pension reform, partially disrupting fuel supply in 12,500 services stations across the country.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon ruled out Sunday any fuel shortage in the wake of refineries strikes, but reiterated the pension reform bill would be passed albeit the "social crisis."

In an interview with local channel TF1, the premier said President Nicolas Sarkozy were closely following the present rage and protest across France everyday.

The French government determined to push up legal retirement age from present 60 years old to 62 in 2018, sparking massive disagreement and rage from labor unions.

Since last Tuesday, major trade unions mobilized transportation workers, teachers, dockers, postal workers and refinery workers to launch a massive strike and demonstration across the country, several sectors decided to continue the strike after the biggest one-day strike numbering over 3 million people.

French striking truck drivers demonstrate over pension reform on a motorway near Fresnes-les-Montauban, northern France, Oct 18, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Automobiles line up for gasoline at a petrol station in Lieusaint, east of Paris, Oct 18, 2010. [Photo.Agencies]