11% of French fuel stations face supply difficulties

About 11% of fuel stations in France were experiencing supply difficulties affecting at least one type of gasoline or diesel as of Wednesday morning, according to government data.

The figure, based on data at 9 am (0700GMT), means 89% of the country's fuel stations reported no supply difficulties.

The government tracks supply at about 9,900 stations and counts a station as experiencing difficulties when at least one type of gasoline or diesel it sells is unavailable.

The rate has fallen from 15% recorded Monday evening and 12% on Tuesday evening, according to the government data.

The situation varies significantly by region.

Supply difficulties affected 16% of stations in Grand Est and Pays de la Loire, while the rate was 7% in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur.

Some 12% of stations in the Paris region were affected.

The latest figures come after Economy Minister Roland Lescure said Monday that 17% of French fuel stations were lacking at least one fuel, with 91% of those stations belonging to TotalEnergies.

Lescure said there was “no concern” over fuel supplies for the following two months, citing available information on tanker shipments and stocks.

“There is no systemic, strategic supply issue,” he said, adding that strategic reserves were full and refineries were operating at full capacity.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, which Tehran says killed thousands of people. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for energy supplies.