French fuel strikes continue

Strike action in French oil refineries continue after unsuccessful negotiations at TotalEnergies factories over wage increases. The company's management wanted to unblock deliveries as a precondition for beginning wage negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron earlier said he expects fuel stations to return to normal supply levels "in the coming week."

The strike demanding pay hikes has paralyzed six of seven refineries in France, leading to shortages of petrol and diesel, exacerbated by panic-buying from drivers.

According to the Ministry of Energy, 30% of French gas stations were short on at least one type of fuel as of Wednesday. The hardest-hit part of the country is northern France – Hauts-de-France and the Paris region.

So far, about 2,500 gas stations in France are currently without fuel and nearly 2,000 gas stations are in partial shortage.