Dry service stations: from Rennes to Brest, Breton motorists are worried about running out of fuel at certain points of sale.
The fault is the blocking of the oil depots in Lorient (since January 25) and Brest (since February 8) by construction artisans, who are asking the government to keep their tax loophole on non-road diesel (GNR), like this was granted to farmers.
In Finistère, 30 service stations out of 147 were out of fuel this Tuesday, February 13 at the start of the day, according to the prefecture which refuses to speak of a shortage.
“The supply of service stations is guaranteed over time”
, state services assure, simply referring to difficulties
“which remain occasional”
.
Increase in demand
“Logistics is rather well established in France, and supplies leave from other depots
,” agrees Francis Pousse, representative of service station managers from the Mobilians employers’ union.
But these supplies, coming from further afield, are logically longer than usual, potentially leading to
“breaking points of a few hours”
.
The phenomenon, assures the prefecture, would be mainly linked to the behavior of worried motorists who come to refuel in anticipation.
The increase in demand combined with slowed supply can also lead to shortages.
Breakups confined to Brittany
The situation, however, remains
“under control”
and
“confined to Brittany”
, assures Francis Pousse, annoyed however that his profession is
“still held hostage”
to a conflict in which it is not a party.
The blockages continued this Tuesday morning.
The Ministry of the Economy would not be ready to return to the GNR tax loophole for construction - too costly - but says it is
"working with employers' organizations"
to establish compensation for
"the smallest companies"
.