Fuels: a union warns of a risk of stock shortages at service stations during the Easter weekend

The war in Iran and the Middle East is beginning to have more and more repercussions in France. Tension on fuels is increasing and the situation could worsen at least temporarily during the long Easter weekend, warns a union, referring to the particular case of TotalEnergies stations.

Thursday evening, the Mobilians mobility services union warned of supply difficulties in the coming days. Questioned on radio Here, Francis Pousse, national president of the Fuel and New Energy Distributors branch, assures that there will be “almost no fuel deliveries for three days so, in certain cases, that will pose problems”.

“Heavy goods vehicles are prohibited from driving on long weekends,” recalls Francis Pousse. “We must have exemptions and, even if we have them, the deposits must also be open. » Barring exceptions, tanks will not be filled during the weekend, he says.

The Total stations concerned

Contacted by Le Parisien, TotalEnergies nevertheless wants to be reassuring. “Our teams are largely mobilized to supply the network before the Easter weekend,” explains the group. Stations can be delivered throughout France on Saturday. » As for Monday, “we will have the possibility of making deliveries, particularly on the busiest main roads,” he adds.

Depending on estimates and data feedback, the number of service stations experiencing a supply disruption for one or more fuels is currently estimated between 10% and just over 15%. In recent weeks, this percentage has been increasing steadily and faster and faster. According to the Pénurie-fuel site, it is the SP95 which is experiencing the most difficulties. Followed by E10, SP98 then diesel.

The exposed stations belong to Total in particular because prices there are capped until at least April 7. Isabelle Patrier, France director of TotalEnergies, does not exclude that this blocking of sales prices will last longer. Refusing to “talk about a volume problem”, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon spoke on Thursday of “punctual logistical tensions in certain stations, particularly the least expensive, linked to local peaks in demand”.

“We will see next week how we position ourselves,” declared Isabelle Patrier this Friday morning at BFM Business. Unlike most distributors, Total is involved in many stages between extraction and delivery. The company therefore has room for maneuver at different levels of the chain to cut back on its margins.

Beyond the situation linked to the Easter weekend, Francis Pousse, from the Mobilians union, is a little more reassuring: “The stocks are there and there are always strategic stocks just in case. »

Earlier in the week, Maud Bregeon assured on TF 1 that there was “at present, no risk of supply disruption (…) I remind you that we still have our strategic stocks. »