French Strikes Hampering Both Nuclear and Refining Sector

French maintenance on eight nuclear reactors is set to be delayed because of further strike action according to a representative of France's FNME trade union.

• Three of the Cruas nuclear plant's reactors are affected by the strike, while two reactors at the Cattenom and Tricastin plants and one Bugey reactor have had their maintenance delayed by the strike.
• French nuclear availability is currently at 51% of total capacity with 26 reactors offline for maintenance.
• Meanwhile, ongoing strike action in the refining sector at TotalEnergies and Exxon sites has knocked out 60% of the country’s refining capacity over the last couple of weeks. The shortages have led to widespread fuel shortages across the country and prompted record high diesel imports so far this month according to Vortexa flows.
• The French government started ordering staff at the Exxon Mobil fuel depot back to work following weeks of refinery strikes over pay and cost of living. The unions have said they are taking legal action to try and block the government’s moves to end strikes.