Brits travelling to France this month have been warned that the country faces petrol and diesel shortages. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel guidance for the country.
UK travellers could face lengthy queues at French fuel stations and have been advised to fill up their tanks before leaving the UK, if they are driving to France. Forecourts across France have been running low on fuel, with more than a quarter having no supplies of at least one type of fuel, The Liverpool Echo reports.
The shortages come after strikes at French refineries which have tightened supply and caused queues at petrol stations. According to the AA, as of midday on Monday, out of more than 11,100 fuel stations in France, 2,093 were completely out of fuel and 1,101 had run out of one type of fuel.
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On Tuesday, the UK Foreign Office issued a warning to those due to visit the European nation. It said: "Due to strike action, there are currently shortages of petrol and diesel at some fuel stations in mainland France.
"Some fuel station operators are limiting how much you can buy. The French Government is advising motorists to avoid filling up where possible. There may be queues at fuel stations."
French prime minister Elisabeth Borne has said workers operating petrol depots of ExxonMobil's French branch Esso will be forced back to work, as she threatened to do the same for those of Total group, amid strikes that have led fuel pumps to run dry in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday at the National Assembly, Ms Borne said about 30 percent of France's petrol stations are experiencing temporary shortages with at least one or more type of fuel. She noted that strong differences between regions - the Paris area and northern France being the most affected places - were making life difficult for drivers.
She called for urgent dialogue between unions and management as strikers seek pay rises amid soaring inflation. The Prime Minister added: "A salary disagreement does not justify blocking the country".
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