In a transport workers' strike that began on December 4, 2023, employees of TotalEnergies, France's largest fuel supplier, have caused significant disruptions in fuel supplies across the greater Paris region. As a result of the strike, numerous petrol and diesel pumps at gas stations in the Ile-de-France region have run dry, leaving residents and businesses grappling with fuel shortages and their associated challenges.

Residents in Paris expressed their frustrations and concerns over the fuel shortage. Ousman, a Parisian resident, highlighted the cascading impact of the situation, stating, "It's too hard. If you don't have fuel, you can't work. If you can't work, you don't have the money, and that's the problem. Now there are problems everywhere, everywhere is closed, there are traffic jams everywhere, so there is no work, there is nothing. That creates problems."

Christophe, another Parisian resident, shared his experience of the struggle to find fuel, saying, "I waited a super long time and I still haven't found fuel. I looked round and round and still nothing. I don't know what else I'm going to do. I'm going to run out of petrol in my car soon. I have to drive during my work from morning to night. This has delayed me for a long time."

Victor, another resident in Paris, echoed the inconvenience caused by the fuel shortage, explaining, "It's really not very convenient. I've searched six to eight kilometers from here, and we have to go further to find fuel."

Government data updated on Wednesday morning revealed the extent of the fuel shortages, with 22 percent of service stations experiencing shortages in Val-de-Marne, 21 percent in the neighboring department of Seine-Saint-Denis, and 20 percent in Hauts-de-Seine.

The strike, organized by some employees of TotalEnergies' subcontractors, is in response to the implementation of onboard surveillance systems in transport trucks, according to the General Union of Transport Workers (CGT Transports). The ongoing protest has disrupted not only the fuel supply chain but also the daily lives and operations of residents and businesses in the greater Paris region.

STORY: Greater Paris region sees fuel shortage after transport workers strike
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 7, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 8, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:05
LOCATION: Paris
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of petrol stations in Paris
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): OUSMAN, Resident in Paris
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): CHRISTOPHE, Resident in Paris
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): VICTOR, Resident in Paris

STORYLINE:

A strike of transport workers of TotalEnergies, France's largest fuel supplier, has affected fuel supplies in the greater Paris region.

Some gas stations in the Ile-de-France region have been running out of petrol and diesel since Dec. 4.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): OUSMAN, Resident in Paris
"It's too hard. If you don't have fuel, you can't work. If you can't work, you don't have the money, and that's the problem.
Now there are problems everywhere, everywhere is closed, there are traffic jams everywhere, so there is no work, there is nothing. That creates problems."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): CHRISTOPHE, Resident in Paris
"I waited a super long time and I still haven't found fuel. I looked round and round and still nothing. I don't know what else I'm going to do. I'm going to run out of petrol in my car soon. I have to drive during my work from morning to night. This has delayed me for a long time."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): VICTOR, Resident in Paris
"It's really not very convenient. I've searched six to eight kilometers of here, and we have to go further to find fuel."

According to the data updated on Wednesday morning on the government website, 22 percent of service stations were suffering shortages in Val-de-Marne, 21 percent in the neighboring department of Seine-Saint-Denis, and 20 percent in Hauts-de-Seine.

According to the General Union of Transport Workers (CGT Transports), the protest, led by some employees of TotalEnergies' subcontractors, is in opposition to the implementation of onboard surveillance systems in transport trucks.