French Police Are Checking Fuel Tanks Before Allowing People To Fill Up Over Shortages

According to France24, the French police are checking fuel tanks before allowing people to fill up, and only those with “priority occupations” are permitted to refuel.

Given the acute shortages the country is experiencing, it appears that French police are checking fuel tanks before allowing individuals to fill up their cars.

As France battles with fuel strikes that are causing shortages, France24 reported on Saturday that some motorists in Arras have been turned away. In one video, a driver pulls up to a fuel station only to be informed that he cannot fill his tank.

“How much do you have sir?” one policeman appears to ask the motorist.

“I’m three-quarters full, I was hoping for—” the man responds, according to the video’s English subtitles.

“Three-quarters? Can’t be done,” the policeman says, cutting him off. “No, no.”

Only those with “priority occupations” are allowed to refuel, according to France24.

According to France24, workers at TotalEnergies and Esso-ExxonMobil have been on strike, and three out of six refineries are closed due to a lack of workers that has reduced production by 60%. According to France24, TotalEnergies operates roughly 3,500 gas stations across the country, accounting for close to one third of all stations.

According to Reuters, France had to draw from its strategic fuel stockpiles to supply gas outlets. According to Reuters, government spokesman Olivier Veran urged citizens not to worry.

Veran reportedly stated, “We are obviously monitoring very, very closely this situation together with the operators and, here and there, when it was necessary, we have used our strategic stocks to enable the stations to be supplied.”

According to Reuters, officials in Hauts-de-France have forbidden the sale of fuel and diesel in portable containers, among other local governments’ efforts to restrict who can purchase fuel.

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