On the other hand, the situation in the Atlantic arc is getting worse, even though the social movement has little effect on the region.
According to Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister for Energy Transition, three out of ten service stations are experiencing difficulties on the national network. This means that they are out of stock of at least one product. The two regions of France that are most frequently affected by shortages, Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France, are both showing signs of a little improvement. Yesterday, 58.4% of service stations were out of stock on at least one product; today, that number has dropped to 48.4%. Compared to yesterday's figure of 44.9%, 33.9% of service stations in Île-de-France are currently experiencing difficulties.
However, according to the government, other challenges have emerged across the region, particularly on the Atlantic arc, where ten percent of the stations are without at least one type of fuel. On the other hand, the social movement in the refineries has no impact on this part of the region. A problem known as precautionary overstocking, which adds to exacerbating the challenges faced in the field, has been criticized by the Minister. To mitigate the negative impacts of the shortage's comeback, it has been decided to make it illegal to fill jerry cans at gas stations across the entirety of France. Previously, this practice was only restricted to select regions of the country.
Deliveries at service stations are going well in areas that are having supply problems: they have grown by 50% in Île-de-France and by 30% in Hauts-de-France. This is one way that supply problems are being resolved.
In addition to this, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) was taken over on Monday to investigate large price hikes at the pump. The price of diesel, for example, increased by about 11 cents in just one week. Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher was quoted as saying, “I say it very plainly: we will not allow that some take advantage of the circumstances to artificially boost prices.” “I say it very clearly.”
