French Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition Elisabeth Borne on Thursday dismissed any risk of oil product supply shortage after General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union planned "full blockade" of the country's seven refineries as part of its action against the government's pension reform.
"We have stocks to supply petrol pumps for three months. Gas stations will be supplied normally," Borne told LCI television.
"Our refineries continue to produce, with six out of seven refineries shipping normally. There is not a supply problem today and won't be tomorrow," she said.
As the government and unions are still locking horns over an overhaul a pension system, GCT union planned "full blockade" of the country's seven refineries from Jan. 7 to 10.
To French minister such announcement is made "to panic the French and make them rushing into gas stations and such behaviour may trigger shortage of certain fuel products."
"There is a right to strike guaranteed by the constitution, but not to block the country," she stressed.
By the end of December, CGT chemical branch decided to halt production at Total's Grandpuits oil refinery and petrol depot which supplies the capital and the surrounding region. It was the second refinery to stop work since unions have staged nationwide strike against government pension reforms on Dec. 5.
The refinery workers stoppage is a part of unions' industrial action to force the government to reconsider its plan to merge the variety of 42 different pension set-ups for different professions into a universal system. (1 euro = 1.119 U.S dollars)
Editor:Cherie
