Some French Gas Stations Run Dry as Price Caps Spur Rush to Fill
Hundreds of French filling stations have run dry as drivers rushed to fill up vehicles, after fuel-price caps were introduced because of global supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war.
Out of 900 stations that have run out of at least one type of fuel, 700 of them belong to TotalEnergies SA, the energy ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. That’s being caused by logistical issues, rather than domestic supply shortages, it said.
The fallout from the conflict and effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway is depriving the world of millions of barrels of petroleum products each day. The scarcity of supplies is showing up everywhere, from sold-out filling stations to grounded flights, and sending fuel prices soaring.
On Tuesday, TotalEnergies extended a cap on petrol and diesel prices at stations across mainland France until April 7. Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said that less than 10% of French gas stations were experiencing some shortages, and the vast majority because TotalEnergies introduced a price cap which has generated a rush by consumers to fill up.
Since mid-March and the price caps announcement, TotalEnergies has had increased traffic across it network, and there may be some localized supply tensions, particularly for diesel, the firm said in a statement. It said it’s working to meet higher-than-usual demand and to restock the affected stations.
The French government has pledged support for some sectors in a bid to alleviate the impact of the war. The package includes €50 million ($58 million) of fuel aid for small- and medium-sized road transport firms, €5 million for fisheries, and €14 million for farmers.
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