“Gasoline production has become a real headache”, fears of shortages in Gard continue to increase tension at gas stations.

Since Monday, March 20, gas stations in Gard have been covered by a storm. Tensions ran high in this border department near Bouches-du-Rhône. As of Sunday, some stations in the prefecture of Nimes and the sub-prefecture of Ales were already out of fuel.

Since the beginning of the week, the scenario has been repeated again, with queues of cars approaching several hundred meters to the stations, forcing even the prefect Marie-Françoise Lecayon to issue an order to regulate the supply. Until midnight on Thursday 23 March, purchases are limited to 30 liters for light vehicles and a few stations are required for priority occupations.

On Tuesday, March 21, security personnel had to be stationed at service stations to manage the influx of vehicles and at times some drivers who were in overdrive. Sites normally open 24 hours a day now close at 8pm. “Making gasoline has become a real headache”Plague Lana Rioux, a young executive, crossed in Alès, at the Super U station, where the staff helps ease the traffic and limit the wait to fifteen minutes. “That’s right, I thought it would take longer.”admits Alesian.

There is no priority queue

Leclerc shopping center near Nimes, the line of cars formed on the double carriageway does not stop growing until early evening. Here, all fuel is still available and word of mouth spreads quickly through town. “At the beginning of the afternoon, my sister came, called me and I came immediately. I passed this word on to my parents and my husband. I’m in reserve, I was stressed”says Lea Garnier, who did it the day before “An hour and a half wait at the station for nothing”. This young mother does not work, but comes for supplies “for everyday needs”.

By late afternoon, drivers have to wait nearly an hour to get to the pump. Stunned at the wheel of a red van, Brigitte Varschke wonders: “Is it always like this here? » This resident of Ardesh, completely “off”, did not follow up on recent news events, neither on 49.3 on Thursday, March 16, nor on Monday, March 20, The Matter of Knowledge. He has less than a quarter of a tank left. “I’m going to wear what I can, pick up my girlfriend who’s coming back from India at the station and go home”He said, taking the job with a smile.