(ICIS) -- The French government ordered police to clear blockades at fuel depots across the country on Wednesday, as nationwide strike action over pension reforms continued to disrupt fuel supplies.
The government was forced to tap reserves after petrol pumps began to dry up across the country as workers at all 13 of France's oil refineries entered a seventh day of national strikes.
The industrial action, along with an unrelated strike at Marseille's Fos-Lavera oil port, has caused massive supply disruptions and panic-buying at petrol stations across France.
France's refineries have been worst hit, with all having been forced to either operate at minimum levels or shut production altogether.
ExxonMobil has been forced to begin the shutdown process at its merged refinery at Port Jerome-Gravenchon.
LyondellBasell's refinery at Berre L'Etang, INEOS's Lavera plant and Petroplus's refineries at Petit Couronne and Reichstett in France and Cressier in Switzerland were also forced to begin production shutdowns last week due to crude supply issues and strike actions.