French farmers have begun a blockade of oil refineries and fuel depots over plans by oil and gas major Total to use imported palm oil at a biofuel plant, which has fanned farmer discontent.
The Vatry fuel depot in the Marne region of northeastern France was the first to be blocked on Sunday evening as about 100 farmers set up barricades with tractors and mounds of rubble.
At least five sites will be blocked on Sunday evening, and a total of 13 sites blocked from 9am local time on Monday, Christiane Lambert, president of the FNSEA farmers union said.
Total, which operates five refineries and nine petrol depots in France, said farmers had gathered at two depots and it is taking measures together with authorities, to limit disruptions.
It urged clients not to rush to petrol stations to fill their tanks, which could spark panic buying and shortages.
The organisers say the blockade, which is slated to run for three days initially, is aimed at pressuring the government into curbing palm oil use at La Mede and to address other grievances such as imports of South American meat.
"Our target is the state," FNSEA's Lambert said, adding that Total's decision on palm oil was "the last straw".
French authorities last month gave Total permission to use palm oil as one of the feed-stocks at its La Mede biofuel refinery in southern France, infuriating farmers who grow local oilseed crops such as rapeseed, as well as environmentalists who blame palm oil cultivation for deforestation in southeast Asia.
Fuel shortages were not expected as a result of the blockade, given France's network of emergency fuel reserves and the absence of sympathy action by fuel sector workers.
Palm oil is cheaper than rapeseed oil as a feedstock for biodiesel and French farmers say its growing use has added to their longstanding competitive disadvantage because of high taxes and strict environmental regulations in France.
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