Oil shortage warning as strike enters 13th day

MARSEILLE, France, March 26, 2007 (AFP) – French oil industry officials warned Monday of petrol shortages from next week if there is no resolution to a strike by dockers at the oil terminal in the Mediterrean port of Marseille.

Some 50 ships including 26 oil tankers were at anchor off the port as the strike called by the CGT union went into its 13th day.

“The lack of supplies means that some refineries are going to start eating into reserves from this week and slowing down production. The first problems for private consumers could appear at the start of April,” said Jean-Francois Cousinie, of the French Union of Petroleum Industries.

The CGT launched the strike on March 14 to demand the recruitment of port workers at a new gas terminal at Fos-sur-Mer. The energy company GDF says that for safety reasons it will employ only its own staff.

Subject: French news