TotalEnergies Diverts Moroccan Fuel to France Amid Refinery Strikes, Causing Shortages

The fuel crisis in France has been felt in Morocco where TotalEnergies is one of the leaders in the hydrocarbon sector. Several motorists in Casablanca have reported, to Maroc Diplomatique, having spent hours in long queues at service stations due to a fuel shortage caused, according to TotalEnergies pumps in Casablanca, by the transport to France of the stock of fuel intended for Morocco.

The strike by TotalEnergies personnel began on September 27 in the hexagon. The CGT is demanding a 10% wage increase. TotalEnergies executives, who posted $10.6 billion in revenue in the first half of 2022, propose to bring the negotiations scheduled for November forward to October if the strike ends. The union does not accept this proposal, which it describes as "blackmail".

President Emmanuel Macron fears that fuel shortages could trigger new "yellow vest" protests. "On average, across the entire French territory, 30% of service stations are experiencing fuel supply difficulties," said French Prime Minister Elisabeth Born in a speech to the National Assembly. The French government spokesman, Olivier Véran, has called for an end to the strike, threatening to force staff to work if necessary.