Strasbourg (dpa / lsw) - Because of the bottlenecks at France's gas stations, no fuel can be sold in canisters in departments on the border with Germany. The authorities in Alsace and in the Moselle department extended a corresponding ban by a week up to and including Wednesday (October 26). Because of comparatively low fuel prices, many motorists from Germany fill up in the neighboring country in the border area.
Refineries have been on strike in France for some time. There are bottlenecks at almost a third of the gas stations across the country. A number of gas stations were temporarily closed completely. Drivers sometimes spend hours trying to find fuel.
The reason for the price differential at the gas stations in the border area are different rules in Germany and France. While the so-called tank discount has long since expired in Germany, France is granting a discount at the pump. According to earlier information, instead of the initial 18 cents, a discount of 30 cents per liter of petrol or diesel will be granted on the mainland in October. In the following months, the tank discount should then melt away in France as well.
