popular articles

France: End of blockades of a TotalEnergies biorefinery and oil terminals

The strike at the La Mède biorefinery and at the Marseille-Fos oil terminals has been lifted, allowing fuel shipments to resume, although new movements are possible in the coming days.

Please share:

The blockades of the biorefinery of La Mède, near Marseille, and of the oil terminals of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille-Fos, operated by Fluxel, were lifted on Friday, according to union sources and the management of TotalEnergies.

La Mède produces small volumes of biodiesel and other biofuels. TotalEnergies has three conventional refineries elsewhere in the country, at Gonfreville (Seine-Maritime), Donges (Loire-Atlantique) and Feyzin (Rhône). Until Friday, only the third one was in service. “The morning shift on the La Mède platform voted non-striker, so the maneuvers in preparation for the restart of the refinery can resume, as well as fuel shipments,” a union source told AFP.

The strike “was lifted this morning”, confirmed to AFP Fabien Cros, delegate and spokesman CGT site. But even if the renewable strike ends at the biorefinery of TotalEnergies La Mède, “it does not mean that we will not continue in one form or another,” he continued, considering that “the motivation of employees” was not questioned in the face of “a government until the end and radical.

The management stressed that the strike was lifted at 04:00 in the morning, allowing the “resumption of shipments and the launch of the start of the facilities of the biorefinery. For production activities, “we are not sure we will be able to restart the facilities this week without endangering the staff”, warned Mr. Cros, alerting to the very degraded state of the production units.

However, he believes that the depository business should be able to resume more quickly. At Fluxel, which manages the oil terminals of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille-Fos, “the movement was lifted yesterday (Thursday) evening,” according to the same union source, which announced the end of the movement at La Mède. A “partial resumption of activities has been voted”, which will be effective within 48 hours, confirmed to AFP Pascal Galéoté, CGT representative of Fluxel. But “we will decide on new modalities of action in the coming days,” he added, noting that 73 ships were still waiting in the harbor of Fos-sur-Mer to be able to unload crude oil, refined products (diesel, gasoline) or chemicals. “We are adapting our strategy” because “the objective is to last over time,” Galéoté continued.

“There may still be calls for demonstrations, but we are going to a lifting of the movement of strike, there is a share of fatalism and discouragement in the face of government inflexibility, not acceptance but a lot of resentment and bitterness that will leave traces, “commented for his part the union source who announced the end of the movement at La Mède and Fluxel.

At the Donges refinery, which has been shut down for several weeks for technical reasons, the CFDT also announced on Friday the suspension of its strike, which could allow shipments from the depots to resume. According to the CFDT, the suspension of the movement was also decided by the CGT, which has a majority on this site.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

SBM Offshore announces the launch of its €141 million ($150 million USD) share repurchase program, following the completion of the €130 million program, as part of its strategy to reduce capital and support employee programs.
Air Liquide anticipates a limited direct impact from global tariff hikes, while expecting an increase in its operational margin for 2025, despite weak demand in certain industrial sectors.
Air Liquide anticipates a limited direct impact from global tariff hikes, while expecting an increase in its operational margin for 2025, despite weak demand in certain industrial sectors.
Eni announces a 3% drop in its net profit for the first quarter, with savings planned to offset falling oil prices and uncertainty surrounding tariffs. The company expects reduced investment spending in 2025.
Eni announces a 3% drop in its net profit for the first quarter, with savings planned to offset falling oil prices and uncertainty surrounding tariffs. The company expects reduced investment spending in 2025.
Channel Tunnel operator Getlink reported a 17% drop in its revenue for Q1 2025, primarily due to the interruption of its ElecLink cross-Channel cable, and maintains its targets for the year.
Channel Tunnel operator Getlink reported a 17% drop in its revenue for Q1 2025, primarily due to the interruption of its ElecLink cross-Channel cable, and maintains its targets for the year.
Chinese giant Sinopec publishes its first international global energy outlook, forecasting a peak in primary energy consumption by 2045 and a rise in non-fossil energy sources.
TotalEnergies’ Antwerp platform plans to end operations of one steam cracker by late 2027, while continuing investments in green hydrogen and sustainable fuels.
TotalEnergies’ Antwerp platform plans to end operations of one steam cracker by late 2027, while continuing investments in green hydrogen and sustainable fuels.
Shanghai Electric has secured strategic partnerships with Masdar and Mawarid Group for large-scale solar and wind projects, strengthening its industrial presence in the Middle East.
Shanghai Electric has secured strategic partnerships with Masdar and Mawarid Group for large-scale solar and wind projects, strengthening its industrial presence in the Middle East.
Weaker North American market conditions weighed on Halliburton's quarterly results, despite strong international activity and revenues exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Weaker North American market conditions weighed on Halliburton's quarterly results, despite strong international activity and revenues exceeding analysts’ expectations.
The global artificial intelligence market applied to the energy sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 36.9% between 2024 and 2030, according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets™ on April 22.
Xavier Huillard departs from Vinci’s executive leadership after two decades of major transformations, handing over to Pierre Anjolras following Thursday’s general assembly.
Xavier Huillard departs from Vinci’s executive leadership after two decades of major transformations, handing over to Pierre Anjolras following Thursday’s general assembly.
Technip Energies has secured a contract with Jet Zero Australia for the engineering of a project aimed at producing sustainable aviation fuel in Townsville, Australia, with an annual capacity of 102 million litres by 2028.
Technip Energies has secured a contract with Jet Zero Australia for the engineering of a project aimed at producing sustainable aviation fuel in Townsville, Australia, with an annual capacity of 102 million litres by 2028.
South African group Eskom has issued a call for tenders to establish an independent entity focused on renewable energy, as part of its strategic restructuring.
South African group Eskom has issued a call for tenders to establish an independent entity focused on renewable energy, as part of its strategic restructuring.
France Chimie warns that 47 industrial sites in France and up to 350 across the European Union could shut down without an emergency response to the escalating trade tensions with the United States and China.
A master agreement between ExxonMobil and Rice University initiates a series of joint energy research projects focused on technological innovation in water treatment and resource recovery.
A master agreement between ExxonMobil and Rice University initiates a series of joint energy research projects focused on technological innovation in water treatment and resource recovery.
Dutch group SBM Offshore has secured a new USD1.1bn revolving credit facility from an international banking consortium, extending and enlarging a previous financing agreement.
Dutch group SBM Offshore has secured a new USD1.1bn revolving credit facility from an international banking consortium, extending and enlarging a previous financing agreement.
Equinor restructures operations to enhance earnings in growing power markets by merging its renewables and flexible generation assets into a single business unit.
Equinor restructures operations to enhance earnings in growing power markets by merging its renewables and flexible generation assets into a single business unit.
According to the International Energy Agency, artificial intelligence will drive a global rise in data centre electricity consumption, reaching the current level of Japan’s national use by the end of the decade.
Sinopec and Saudi Aramco have signed a framework agreement to expand the Yanbu complex, aiming to establish an integrated refining and petrochemical platform with high industrial capacity.
Sinopec and Saudi Aramco have signed a framework agreement to expand the Yanbu complex, aiming to establish an integrated refining and petrochemical platform with high industrial capacity.
Fusion Fuel has signed a letter of intent to acquire a UK-based fuel distribution company valued at £50mn, as part of its strategy to expand its presence across the energy value chain.
Fusion Fuel has signed a letter of intent to acquire a UK-based fuel distribution company valued at £50mn, as part of its strategy to expand its presence across the energy value chain.
SBM Offshore finalises a non-recourse leaseback agreement worth $400 million for FPSO Cidade de Paraty, transferring ownership to a consortium of Chinese lessors for an eight-year period.
SBM Offshore finalises a non-recourse leaseback agreement worth $400 million for FPSO Cidade de Paraty, transferring ownership to a consortium of Chinese lessors for an eight-year period.
Mining companies are turning to copper production to drive growth from 2025, marking a strategic shift in capital allocation, according to Wood Mackenzie.
Swedish manufacturer Autoliv signs two 12-year renewable power purchase agreements with Alight and Eurowind Energy to ensure stable supply and anticipate volatility in European energy markets.
Swedish manufacturer Autoliv signs two 12-year renewable power purchase agreements with Alight and Eurowind Energy to ensure stable supply and anticipate volatility in European energy markets.
Avangrid brought together over 150 energy stakeholders in Cambridge during its annual forum to accelerate the development of technological solutions involving artificial intelligence, storage, and infrastructure resilience.
Avangrid brought together over 150 energy stakeholders in Cambridge during its annual forum to accelerate the development of technological solutions involving artificial intelligence, storage, and infrastructure resilience.
British oil group BP has confirmed the planned departure of its chairman of the board Helge Lund, launching a transition process expected to conclude in 2026.
British oil group BP has confirmed the planned departure of its chairman of the board Helge Lund, launching a transition process expected to conclude in 2026.

Advertising