French oil workers strike
did gas prices need another reason to go up?
By Marguerita Choy
PARIS (Reuters) - Strikers have shut France's biggest refinery, are blockading its southern refining hub and threatening to close Total's French plants -- all at a time when consumer nations are crying out for fuel.
The action comes when a dozen U.S. refineries remain shut after Hurricane Rita and plants across the northern hemisphere should be cranking up heating oil output ahead of winter.
Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) is Europe's largest oil refiner, produces half of France's gasoline and heating oil and is a leading supplier of fuel to the United States.
By Marguerita Choy
PARIS (Reuters) - Strikers have shut France's biggest refinery, are blockading its southern refining hub and threatening to close Total's French plants -- all at a time when consumer nations are crying out for fuel.
The action comes when a dozen U.S. refineries remain shut after Hurricane Rita and plants across the northern hemisphere should be cranking up heating oil output ahead of winter.
Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) is Europe's largest oil refiner, produces half of France's gasoline and heating oil and is a leading supplier of fuel to the United States.
