<article><p class="lead">Four out of six French refineries are stopping operations or plan to stop by Monday, 20 March, as industrial action deepens over planned changes to pension rights.</p><p>Workers and union officials said refineries are shutting as a response to the government forcing through its pensions law, using a parliamentary clause known as 49:3. </p><p>"Anger is rising," one said.</p><p>It also appears refineries are running short of crude, as strikes by dockers and port workers hamper discharge. </p><p>TotalEnergies' 219,000 b/d Donges and 246,900 b/d Gonfreville plants, UK-Chinese refiner Petroineos' 210,000 b/d Lavera refinery and ExxonMobil's 207,100 b/d Port Jerome should all be closed by 20 March, according to workers. The latter is halting operations as it does not have enough crude to maintain throughput.</p><p>The situation is fluid and TotalEnergies has yet to respond to queries on the matter.</p><p class="bylines">By Adam Porter</p></article>
