French oil industry ends strikes over pension reform

Oct 29, 2010, 17:42 GMT

Paris - Weeks of strikes in the French oil industry against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform ended on Friday.

Unions said they had lifted their blockade of all 12 oil depots in the country as well as at the key refineries in Marseilles and Le Havre.

For technical reason, the it might take several days before the refineries are operating normally, the unions said.

National rail company SNCF said normal services would resume at the weekend, but there might still be regional disruptions.

But there are expected to be long queues at petrol stations, not all of whom will be open.

The umbrella organization of the oil industry said one in five filling stations had supply problems. The energy ministry estimates 85 per cent will be open for business.

The reform is expected to become law in mid-November, after a review by the Constitutional Council, and will go into effect in the middle of next year.

It gradually raises the retirement age for a minimum pension from 60 to 62, and from 65 to 67 for a full pension, by the year 2018.

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