The blockage started this Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. In Brest (Finistère), the oil depot has been paralyzed for a few hours by dozens of trucks and tractors. At the wheel, public works or building professionals who intend to protest against the rise in fuel prices which jeopardizes their activity. Fishermen are also present, those who hesitate to go to sea as each outing costs them an arm. A few dozen kilometers away, the situation is the same in Lorient, where public works machinery has been blocking access to the fuel depot since 8 am this morning. According to Le Télégramme, fishermen are present, local business owners, taxi drivers should join in too.
On the spot, the demonstrators lit pallet fires and intend to maintain the blockage all day in order to put pressure on the public authorities. “We work at a loss,” testified a boss of the construction industry to our colleagues from Ouest-France. According to the National Chamber of Crafts, Public Works and Landscaping (CNATP) of Finistère, professionals “can no longer wait for the resilience plan and the measures expected from the government”. They are asking for an immediate drop in the price of diesel and gasoline, which jeopardizes their businesses.
The mobilization takes place on the day of the arrival of Jean Castex in Brittany. The Prime Minister is expected in Rennes on Tuesday for the signing of the State-region plan contract for an amount estimated at around one billion euros. Three days ago, Jean Castex announced a discount at the pump of 15 cents per liter of fuel from April 1. A measure that will cost two billion euros to the State but remains insufficient in the eyes of professionals.
The rise in fuel prices has been caused by oil production failing to keep pace with the strong global economic recovery, which was further accelerated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This Tuesday, the price of fuel had fallen slightly but still exceeded 2 euros per liter for diesel at several service stations in Brittany.