After the call for civility from users from the gendarmes of the Northwhat 20 Minutes evoked Wednesday, the prefects of the departments of Hauts-de-France took over more firmly to try to stem the rush on fuels. Preferring to speak of “difficulties in supplying” the stations rather than a shortage, the representatives of the State took measures supposed to calm the game.
We know that the fear of heights can paralyze the sprightliest. And that’s nothing compared to the fear of empty gas tanks. Since Total Energies launched its rebate of 20 cents per liter of fuel in addition to that of 30 cents from the State, the stations in its network have been regularly stormed and emptied in less time than it takes. needed to fill them. At the border, our Belgian neighbors were not left out to get supplies at a lower cost. By increasing its supply frequencies, the tanker more or less managed the situation. Until a strike broke out in several Total refineries which further disrupted deliveries.
Priority access to health personnel
Seeing the stations out of service multiplying, around 12% in France and 30% in Hauts-de-France, users rushed to those still in service to refuel, or even to stock up with jerrycans, accentuating the phenomenon again. From Wednesday, therefore, the prefects of the departments of the region issued orders to prohibit the purchase and sale of fuel in manually transportable containers. Except that, this Thursday morning, in Lille, the queues were still long in the few stations supplied.
To avoid paralyzing the transport and agricultural sectors and “ensure the continuity of public service missions”, the operators of the stations identified in the Orsec plan must now “set up priority access for the benefit of medical transport and health professionals with a professional doctor’s or nurse’s card. The authorities have also asked operators to “give priority to the distribution of fuel to the economic and passenger transport sectors. For all stations, in particular automatic ones, operators must also ensure compliance with the ban on filling jerrycans or cans.
Part of the strategic stocks were released on Wednesday in the three depots still in operation to restock service stations. However, if the situation continues to deteriorate, the authorities reserve the right to requisition stations, which could then only serve priority vehicles, in other words security forces, emergency services and health services.